Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, Might 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly authorised 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 but the choice was pending parliament's approval.

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

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International Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the choice was no purpose to rejoice as a result of "there may be warfare in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO will not change our primary thinking that we will all the time search peaceable solutions and we are a peace-loving nation that may firstly seek diplomatic solutions to every conflict," he said through the debate.

Opponents to the applying 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 turn into the border between the navy alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a threat only through the application process however quite a brand new and permanent situation of our foreign and safety policy," he stated.

Early on Tuesday, the overseas affairs committee determined to affix the state management in proposing to parliament that the Nordic country should apply for membership.

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

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

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