BRUSSELS
The effect of the crises in Africa and the Middle East has spread to Finland, which expects four times more asylum seekers this year compared to the previous year.
Finland’s Interior Ministry said in a statement on Thursday: "The most recent estimates from the Finnish Immigration Service suggest that the number of those applying for asylum in Finland this year might go up to as many as 15,000."
The ministry said Finland received 3,600 asylum seekers last year, adding that the cause behind the rise in asylum seekers is the crisis in Africa and the Middle East, from which thousands of migrants cross the Mediterranean, fleeing war and persecution back home.
Sampo Terho, chairman of the anti-immigrant and nationalist Finns Party said in a statement on Thursday: "For years we have warned about the rise in the expenses related to asylum seekers and now the problem is at hand."
Nordic countries including Sweden and Denmark also saw an increase in asylum seekers in recent years.
The number of asylum seekers almost doubled in Denmark last year, with 14,815 people arriving in 2014 compared to 7,557 in 2013, according to the Danish immigration service.
Sweden received the greatest share of the EU’s 626,000 asylum seekers last year based on its population size. Sweden is expected to receive 74,000 asylum seekers in 2015, compared to 85,000 in 2014, according to its migration board.
Rise in far right popularity
Sweden’s far-right and anti-immigrant the Sweden Democrats, with roots and history of fascist movements, has become the most popular party in the country, according to YouGov poll released on Thursday.
According to YouGov, an international market research company, the Sweden Democrats have the support of 25.2 percent of the voters in Sweden, surpassing the ruling Social Democrats with 23.4 per cent and the center-right Moderates with 21 per cent.
The poll was conducted between August 14 and 17 this year with 1,527 respondents, consisting of men and women between the ages 18 and 74.
