Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

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

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

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

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto said the choice was no purpose to have a good time because "there may be conflict in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our primary thinking that we will always search peaceful options and we're a peace-loving nation that can at first seek diplomatic options to every battle," he said throughout the debate.

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

"Our border would become the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a risk solely through the utility process however rather a new and permanent condition of our overseas and safety policy," he stated.

Early on Tuesday, the foreign affairs committee determined to join the state management in proposing to parliament that the Nordic country ought to apply for membership.

"Having heard a really massive variety of experts and having acquired the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland should apply for membership in NATO. This decision is unanimous," chairman Jussi Halla-aho told reporters.

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

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