Parliament approves accession to NATO

The ​Parliament on Wednesday approved the government proposal on Finland's accession to NATO.

Together with the international agreements, Parliament adopted the legislative proposals included in the government proposal, said the parliament in a press release.

The proposal was approved by a vote of 184-7. Six lawmakers from Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance), a component of the five-party alliance government another lawmaker cast votes against the proposal.

Another lawmaker Ano Turtiainen, who formed a one-man parliamentary group named Power Belongs to the People after being expelled from main opposition Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) also opposed the proposal.

Seven other lawmakers were absent while one abstained.

In the vote, the approval of the matter in accordance with the report of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the proposed rejection by Vasemmistoliitto lawmaker Markus Mustajärvi.

The Parliament also voted on Mustajärvi's proposed resolutions which were rejected.

Mustajärvi said Finland is not setting enough conditions to join, for example regarding the placement of nuclear weapons in Finland, reported Xinhua, quoting a leading Finnish language daily Helsingin Sanomat.

"I consider the biggest problem with NATO membership to be ... that Finland accepts NATO's nuclear weapons policy, and at the same time effectively renounces its non-nuclear status," said MP Johannes Yrttiaho who supported Mustajärvi 's concern.

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said in the parliament that the decision on the NATO Act does not change Finland's position, or legislation on nuclear weapons.

Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen also added: "We are not trying to bring them to Finland, and no one is trying to force them here either."

Haavisto has said he believes both Finland and Sweden will be members of the military alliance by the time of the NATO summit in Vilnius next summer, the Xinhua added, quoting national broadcaster Yle.

Parliament considered the matter on the basis of the unanimous report of the Foreign Affairs Committee. The report states, for example, that NATO membership would decrease military threat to Finland.

An Act adopted by the Parliament shall be submitted to the President for confirmation. The President shall decide on the confirmation within three months of the submission of the Act.

Earlier on December 5, 2022. the Finnish Government submitted a proposal on Finland’s accession to NATO to Parliament.

So far, 28 out of 30 NATO member states have ratified Finland’s accession. Ratifications by Turkey and Hungary are still pending.