FM to face no-confidence motion for anti-abortion stand

Four opposition parties on Friday decided to place a no-confidence motion in the parliament against Foreign Minister Timo Soini for his position to abortion rights, National Broadcaster Yle reported.

The main opposition party in the parliament Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP), Vihreä Liitto (Green League), Vasemmistoliito (Left Alliance) and Ruotsalainenkansanpuolue (Swedish People's Party) agreed to place the motion following a string of anti-abortion statements of Soini made on his blog and his participation in an anti-abortion demonstration in Canada during an official visit.

SDP parliamentary group leader Antti Lindtman pointed out that a majority of lawmakers opposed the statement and activities of the Foreign Minister in this regard.

“In a world where women’s rights are increasingly challenged, it’s not right that Finland’s Foreign Minister is at odds with Finland’s official foreign policy,” said the Yle report quoting Lindtman as saying.

The Foreign Minister should resign, if the majority of the MPs back the no-confidence motion, Lindtman said.

The motion will be proposed in a week’s time during the budget session but the specific timing was not confirmed yet.

Earlier, the comments of Soini, who had described Argentina as "a fine country" following a parliamentary decision there not to liberalize abortion rights, triggered explicitly worded disengagements from the other two coalition parties.

Soini currently represents the populist Sininen Tulevaisuus (Blue Reform) party, a break-away fraction from the Finns Party.

In May, Soini commented negatively on the liberalization of abortion rights in Ireland. He also participated in a pro-life vigil during an official visit in Canada.

Local commentators have said the other two coalition parties are reluctant to go beyond verbal reactions, so as not to risk toppling the government.

Abortion is not a key political issue in Finland. Soini has earlier defended his abortion comments, referring to his religious conviction and freedom of speech.

A poll by national broadcaster Yle on Friday said that backing for Soini's Sininen Tulevaisuus has declined to under 1 percent. Finland will arrange a general election next May.