Two rival demonstrations to disrupt Helsinki traffic on Saturday

Two large demonstrations are expected to disrupt traffic in central Helsinki on Saturday, Yle reports. Hundreds of people are expected to attend the events, organised by the Sinimusta Liike party and antifascist groups.

The Sinimusta Liike demonstration will gather at Rautatientori square at 1.30pm before moving in a procession to Dallapénpuisto park. Organisers expect between 200 and 300 supporters. The demonstration will call, among other things, for the removal of criminal foreign nationals from Finland.

A larger counter-demonstration will gather at Hakaniementori square at 2pm and is scheduled to proceed to Kansalaistori square. It is organised by Aurora Helsinki and the Varis network, and its stated theme is antifascism.

Police estimate that the second demonstration could attract up to twice as many participants as the Sinimusta Liike procession. A similar demonstration in Helsinki on Independence Day in 2025 drew more than 1,000 people.

Police are still negotiating the procession routes with the organisers. The routes will be finalised no later than Saturday.

Police advise travellers to allow extra time

The processions are expected to affect public transport and private car traffic in central Helsinki. Police advise people travelling in the area on Saturday afternoon to allow enough time for their journeys.

Police will direct traffic at the scene and have urged people in the area to remain calm.

“Let’s keep our heads and not join in provoking people. These are large demonstrations, but they will only last for a short time. They will not continue for many hours,” said Henri Helminen, a senior police inspector at the Helsinki Police Department.

Police said they would secure both demonstrations and maintain public order and safety with sufficient resources.

“Regardless of what one thinks about a demonstration, people have a full right to demonstrate. They do not even need a police permit; notifying the police is sufficient. Both organisers have submitted their notifications, so these are fully legal demonstrations,” Helminen said.

Sinimusta Liike is a Finnish neo-fascist, nationalist and traditionalist party. It was entered in the party register in June 2022, but the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the registration in April 2024. The party was registered again in May 2025.

Antifascism means opposition to fascism. The source article notes that violent troublemakers can also be involved in the movement’s activities.