National Coalition Party condemns Antti Pekola’s anti-LGBTQ+ remarks in Pori, Finland

The Satakunta branch of the National Coalition Party strongly condemns the anti-LGBTQ+ writings of Antti Pekola, a church representative in the Pori parish union. In a text message published in the Satakunnan Kansan, Pekola urged readers to adhere to biblical commands regarding the death penalty for homosexuals.

Jarkko Stenfors, chairman of the Satakunta National Coalition Party, expressed on Friday in the same newspaper’s opinion section that this statement has deeply shocked the party community and is completely condemnable, as it contradicts the party’s principles. He reminded that one of the key responsibilities of public authority, according to the party’s principles, is to ensure safety for all individuals. This includes protecting individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Stenfors emphasized that candidates must commit to following these principles and avoid actions that harm the party’s reputation, stating that Pekola is not a suitable candidate for the party list. Pekola had previously run in the 2022 regional elections, where he also sparked controversy with his anti-LGBTQ+ comments.

Additionally, Bishop Mari Leppänen of Turku commented on Thursday in an interview that she finds Pekola’s remarks in the text message column inappropriate. She indicated that the Pori parish union will address the situation. Responding to the media, Antti Pekola claimed that he was using metaphors and did not mean to suggest that homosexuality should be punished by death.