Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, Might 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly permitted a proposal to apply for membership of the NATO military alliance in a historic policy shift prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

President Sauli Niinisto and the government determined officially on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership however the resolution was pending parliament's approval.

Of the 200 lawmakers, 188 voted in favour and eight against the appliance, Speaker Matti Vanhanen stated.

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the decision was no reason to have a good time as a result of "there's struggle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our basic considering that we are going to at all times search peaceable options and we are a peace-loving nation that can at the start search diplomatic solutions to every battle," he said through the debate.

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

"Our border would change into the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a danger solely through the utility course of but quite a brand new and permanent condition of our international and safety coverage," he mentioned.

Early on Tuesday, the overseas affairs committee decided to affix the state leadership in proposing to parliament that the Nordic nation should apply for membership.

"Having heard a really giant variety of experts and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This resolution is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho advised reporters.

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

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