Finns want more direct talk about NATO: poll

Over half of Finns want specific and understandable views from the Finnish presidential candidates on whether Finland should join NATO, the result of a recent poll showed on Wednesday.

The poll was commissioned by the publishing house Alma media. In the poll, 53 percent want unequivocal views, a quarter disagree and a fifth cannot formulate.

Markku Jokisipila, director of the parliamentary research center in Turku, told newspaper Kauppalehti that the result is understandable as in the candidates' debate over NATO, the difference between their views has been minute.

He said the debate has been "in a way cryptic". "If a person is not well versed in security policy, it may be difficult to follow the discussion", Jokisipila said.

Matti Pesu, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told Kauppalehti the stand of the incumbent president Sauli Niinistö is the most unclear among all the candidates. Pesu reminded that Niinistö repeatedly said a possible NATO application "depends on the situation".

Only Nils Torvalds, the candidate of the Swedish Party, flags openly in favor of NATO. The other six candidates are critical, and Niinistö is somewhat opaque.

Jokisipila called for Finnish restraint in the NATO debate. He warned against excessive painting of threats.

Pesu said Finland's current companionship, particularly with the U.S. and Sweden, should be reviewed. "The development of companionship has been specifically part of the security policy line of President Niinistö", Pesu said.

Analysts also noted that Niinistö on several occasions said that "assistance would be coming, if Finland needs it."

The entry of Paavo Väyrynen, former foreign minister and multiple presidential candidate, is expected to bring more focus on security policy into the campaign debates. Väyrynen launched his campaign on Tuesday.

In recent polls, the support of NATO membership has somewhat declined. A survey released last month and conducted by official defense information body, MTS, showed that the support of NATO had declined from 25 percent to 22 percent within a year.