In a survey of HS, Saara Hyrkkö, Deputy Speaker of the Parliamentary Group, says that she is in favor of NATO membership.
Previously several the Greens now say they are in favor of joining the military alliance NATO.
After discussion, at least the Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Group has turned to NATO Saara Hyrkkö.
Hyrkkö says about this in an HS survey conducted this week. He says he has considered the matter in depth in recent weeks.
“The most important task of Finland’s security policy solutions is to prevent war. At the same time, we need to make sure that we get along even in the worst of things. With the changed security situation, I have tended to support Finland’s NATO membership, ”he explains.
Hyrkkö has been critical of NATO in the past. In the 2019 parliamentary election machine, he somewhat disagreed with the statement that Finland should start preparing to apply for NATO during this parliamentary term.
“My previous reservations about NATO membership have changed. It is hard to see that there are even better options available. Of course, I am still going with an open mind to the parliamentary process that will begin in Parliament, ”he now writes.
Also MP for the Greens Noora Koponen says in an HS poll that it is in favor of membership. He argues that NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s defense capabilities and reduce Finland’s country risk from the perspective of international investors.
“In addition to the security policy angle, NATO membership would balance economic conditions.”
During the 2019 parliamentary elections, Koponen disagreed somewhat that Finland should start preparing to apply for NATO during this parliamentary term.
Natoa is also supported by the MP Mari Holopainen.
“Finland is a small country alone, and through that our position is also dependent on others and today relies primarily on influencing through the EU. Of course, NATO is not without problems either, but our position in security policy would be stronger if we had joined NATO, ”he explains.
In the 2019 parliamentary election machine, Holopainen replied that he could not say his position on whether Finland should start preparing to apply for NATO during this parliamentary term.
Holopainen says that membership did not seem topical to him at the time. He was still if he was leaning towards NATO then.
Regarding Holopainen, it is unfortunate that NATO has not joined since the possibility of joining has emerged since the mid-1990s, for example.
“The period of Finnishization certainly affected the thinking of the decision-makers at the time. It is also the case that the development of the neighboring area has not been adequately monitored and that the effects of the stalemate in human rights and the role of non-governmental organizations or the problems of corporate responsibility (including Fennovoima) have not been adequately addressed. The war of aggression may also affect the country risk in Finland and Europe. The suffering of the war must be brought to an end, ”he writes.
You can learn more about the NATO positions of MPs by browsing the HS’s updated table. It brings together both the views expressed in a recent HS survey and NATO positions reported by MPs in other sources since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Read more: HS’s upgraded table summarizes MEPs’ NATO positions – Many have not yet stated or decided
Green is currently considering, as with other parties, its position on NATO in the context of the changed security policy.
Deputy Chairman Iiris Suomela told HS recently this week turned to support NATO membership.
Also, for example, the chairman of the parliamentary group Atte Harjanne has already stated its positive position in the past.
The Group of the Greens has 20 members of parliament. According to HS’s own survey and other public information, at least seven of them are in favor. Others have not been able to say or have so far expressed their position publicly in the new security policy situation.
HS: n in a recent poll of green MPs as well Sofia Virta says he is in favor of NATO membership. Virta already supported membership in the 2019 parliamentary elections.
“My position has not changed – but strengthened even more,” he writes.
Yle in a previous poll after the start of the war in Ukraine the Green MPs also signed up for NATO Pirkka-Pekka Petelius.
Modified at 10.55 pm: Mari Holopainen’s previous NATO position supplemented.
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