https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/20/racism-and-rape-fantasies-the-pr-headache-facing-finlands-new-right-wing-government
In response to a request for comment, the Finns Party tells Euronews Halla-aho "is one of the most esteemed politicians in Finland."
However, Party Secretary Arto Luukkanen says "your information concerning Finnish politics is not apt and does not correspond to realities of life. To rely on biased sources is a typical 'rookies-mistake' (sic), both in journalism and in historiography (sic)" he added.
The difference is that Halme was a joke and a complete embarrassment between his meathead persona, Exit Only tattooed above his ass and continual drug escapades, and the Finns party was seen as something for dumbdumbs and yokels
Halla-aho made it so that educated middle class guys could support the party without fear of being laughed at or dying of cringe themselves
IIRC before he actually became a politician his followers were debating if he should join the Finns or start his own party because they were afraid of the Finns party association