Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

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

President Sauli Niinisto and the federal government decided officially on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership but the determination was pending parliament's approval.

Of the 200 lawmakers, 188 voted in favour and eight in opposition to the applying, Speaker Matti Vanhanen stated.

Register

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the choice was no cause to have a good time because "there is warfare in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO is not going to change our fundamental pondering that we'll at all times seek peaceful solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that may at first search diplomatic options to each battle," he stated throughout 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 decision with a counter proposal resulting in it being put to the vote.

"Our border would change into the border between the army alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a threat only during the application process but somewhat a brand new and everlasting condition of our foreign and safety coverage," he said.

Early on Tuesday, the international affairs committee decided to join the state leadership in proposing to parliament that the Nordic nation ought to apply for membership.

"Having heard a very giant variety of specialists and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the overseas affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This decision is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho told reporters.

Register

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

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.