Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

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

President Sauli Niinisto and the federal government determined formally on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership but the choice was pending parliament's approval.

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

Register

Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto mentioned the choice was no purpose to rejoice as a result of "there is struggle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our primary considering that we will always seek peaceful options and we are a peace-loving nation that will before everything seek diplomatic options to every conflict," he stated through the debate.

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

"Our border would grow to be the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a risk only throughout the software process but reasonably a new and everlasting condition of our overseas and security policy," he mentioned.

Early on Tuesday, the international affairs committee determined to hitch the state management in proposing to parliament that the Nordic nation ought to apply for membership.

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

Register

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

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.