prime minister Sanna MarinThe Social Democratic Party has officially supported Finland’s NATO membership.
The party council of the largest parliamentary group met for several hours on Saturday afternoon in Helsinki. The 60-member council gave the green light to NATO’s application with 53-5 votes and two abstentions.
The vote was expected after a unanimous yes vote by the party government and Marin’s own support for the NATO application.
"As a result of the significant change in the security environment in Finland and Europe, the SDP supports Finland’s NATO membership." the party council said in a statement in the late afternoon.
After the decision of the SDP council, the president Sauli Niinistö and the government’s foreign and security policy committee will discuss Finland’s application for NATO membership on Sunday. Parliament will meet to consider the NATO application on Monday.
Marin: Finland, Sweden will apply together next week
In a speech to the party government on Saturday, Marin said so "Finland and Sweden have been NATO’s closest partners for years. We are technically very compatible and train regularly with NATO countries. However, we do not have NATO security guarantees."
"Here is the crux of our decision: would NATO membership increase Finland’s security in a changed situation? Will Finland’s membership in NATO strengthen Europe’s security? The answer is that" Marin said.
"I believe that NATO membership is the best solution for maintaining Finland’s security and the stability of our neighboring areas in the changed security policy situation. That is why we must apply for NATO membership without delay."
In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat on Saturday, Marin said that he expects Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership together next week.
The Prime Minister of Sweden Magdalena AnderssonThe Social Democratic Party is also expected to approve the country’s NATO application on Sunday.
Marin said he has personally supported membership since 2020, although he only formally stated his position in a joint statement with the president. Sauli Niinistö on Thursday.
Almost all SDP MPs vote yes
Antti LindtmanThe chairman of the SDP parliamentary group said MPs would be given free rein to vote their conscience on the matter.
Yle has been informed that almost all SDP parliamentary groups intend to vote in favor of the NATO application. Only two of the 40 MPs in the SDP are expected to vote against it.
Government partners The Left Alliance is the only party that has not yet stated its position on NATO. They may end up as the only major party to oppose membership, but they are not going to resign from the government for that matter.
Source: The Nordic Page