Finland’s parliament votes sure to NATO

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

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

Of the 200 lawmakers, 188 voted in favour and eight in opposition to the application, Speaker Matti Vanhanen said.

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto said the decision was no motive to have a good time as a result of "there may be war in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our fundamental pondering that we'll at all times seek peaceful options and we are a peace-loving nation that may before everything search diplomatic options to each conflict," he stated throughout the debate.

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

"Our border would turn into the border between the army alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a danger only through the utility course of but moderately a new and everlasting condition of our foreign and security coverage," he said.

Early on Tuesday, the foreign affairs committee determined to affix the state leadership in proposing to parliament that the Nordic nation ought to apply for membership.

"Having heard a really giant number of experts and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the overseas affairs committee agrees with the federal government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This determination is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho instructed reporters.

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

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