Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, Could 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly permitted a proposal to use 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 determined 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 against the applying, Speaker Matti Vanhanen stated.

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International Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned the decision was no purpose to have a good time as a result of "there's war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our fundamental thinking that we will all the time seek peaceful solutions and we are a peace-loving nation that will before everything search diplomatic options to each battle," he mentioned through the debate.

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

"Our border would develop into the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a danger solely throughout the software process however fairly a brand new and everlasting condition of our international and security policy," he stated.

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

"Having heard a really large number of consultants and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the international affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This choice is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho instructed reporters.

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

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