The government says that it will propose the passage of expedited "special legislation" procedure in connection with a bill for a new law on Finnish involvement in crisis management operations.
The decision was confirmed by Minister of Finance Eero Heinäluoma (SDP) after receiving answers to a question he put to Parliamentary groups.
The Social Democratic Party's parliamentary group said earlier on Tuesday that it favours the special legislation procedure.
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) asked all Parliamentary groups to give their views on the matter by mid-Tuesday.
Nearly all parties decided on the matter already at the end of last week, but the SDP's Heinäluoma was not yet ready to endorse the special legislation procedure. Last week he still would have preferred to deal with the matter through a constitutional amendment.
The parliamentary group of the Left Alliance also decided to endorse the special legislation route, on the condition that the crisis management law would continue to require the approval of the United Nations, even for crisis management activities of the EU.
Passing special legislation requires a five-sixths majority in Parliament, which means that 34 of Finland's 200 Members of Parliament can stop the expedited passage of the bill. So far, only the Left Alliance and the True Finns have openly opposed it.
With the Social Democrats now backing the bill, the necessary qualified majority is expected to be found., unless other parties attach conditions for their cooperation.
Defence Minister Seppo Kääriäinen (centre) said that the bill might be brought before Parliament already on Friday of this week.
