Finland’s parliament is likely to vote on Tuesday on a proposal to apply to join NATO’s military alliance, in a historic political shift brought about by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
President Sauli Niinisto and the government officially decided on Sunday that Finland would apply for membership, but the decision is pending approval by Parliament, which is expected with an overwhelming majority.
Discussion in the Finnish legislature began on Monday and the first session ended more than 14 hours later, after midnight, after deputies had delivered 212 speeches on the topic, the vast majority in favor of accession.
In the early hours of Tuesday, the foreign affairs committee decided to join the leadership of the state in proposing to parliament that the Nordic country should apply for membership in NATO.
“Having heard a very large number of experts and having received the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland should apply to join NATO. This decision is unanimous,” its president, Jussi Halla-aho, told reporters.
Parliament will continue to debate the issue at a second plenary session in the afternoon, at the end of which there will be a vote on the matter if a Member opposes the proposal.
At least one lawmaker told the press he would make sure there was a vote if no one else did.
Source: CNN Brasil
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