Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

HELSINKI, May 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly authorized a proposal to apply for membership of the NATO navy alliance in a historic policy shift prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

President Sauli Niinisto and the government decided formally on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership however the decision was pending parliament's approval.

Of the 200 lawmakers, 188 voted in favour and eight towards the appliance, Speaker Matti Vanhanen mentioned.

Register

International Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the choice was no reason to celebrate as a result of "there's conflict in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO is not going to change our fundamental pondering that we'll all the time search peaceful solutions and we are a peace-loving nation that can firstly seek diplomatic options to every battle," he mentioned in the course of the debate.

Opponents to the applying included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, a part of Finland's five-party coalition, among them Markus Mustajarvi who challenged the choice with a counter proposal leading to it being put to the vote.

"Our border would turn out to be the border between the army alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a risk only through the application process however slightly a new and permanent situation of our international and security policy," he stated.

Early on Tuesday, the foreign affairs committee determined to affix the state management in proposing to parliament that the Nordic country should apply for membership.

"Having heard a very giant number of specialists and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the overseas affairs committee agrees with the federal government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This resolution is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho instructed reporters.

Register

Reporting by Anne Kauranen; Modifying by Robert Birsel and Alison Williams

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Rules.