NATO issue splits Centre Party

National Coalition Party most pro-NATO

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Finland's possible membership in NATO is splitting the Centre Party of Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen into two camps.
      The party takes the official line that NATO membership is not "topical" for now, but that the possibility of joining the alliance must be retained.
     
Within the party, the so-called "city centrists" take a more positive view than representatives of the provinces, say key figures in the Centre Party and other parties in interviews with Helsingin Sanomat.
      The most visible and influential anti-NATO figure in the Centre Party is Paavo Väyrynen, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development.
      "Why should Finland join NATO? Nobody has put forward good reasons", Väyrynen says.
      A large part of the Centre Party’s Parliamentary Group agrees. Those taking a more open view include Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen as well as Mari Kiviniemi, Minister of Administrative and Municipal Affairs.
      The split is also generational, with older Centre Party figures more critical than the younger ones. Few among the young overtly support membership, but they are more willing than the older generation to consider it.
     
The same dividing line can be seen in attitudes toward taking part in the NATO Response Force.
      During the winter Vanhanen will have to guide his own split party and the other parties in the government to agree on a single NATO policy to be included in the defence report.
      The National Coalition Party is the most pro-NATO of all parties. According to the party’s official view on the subject, NATO membership would be in Finland’s interests. Party leader and Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen says that under the government’s policy programme, membership is possible, but it would require the support of the people, and the agreement of the three largest parties.
      "I do not believe that unanimity can be achieved during this electoral term", he says.
      Only a few figures in the National Coalition Party take a more critical view of NATO membership. One of them is Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva who is adhering to the negative stance on NATO membership, which he proclaimed before the Parliamentary elections earlier this year. However, he emphasised that his view is not carved in stone.
     
While the Greens take a negative view of joining NATO, there are more positive tones within the party. MP Pekka Haavisto and Minister of Justice Tuija Brax feel that the issue needs to be assessed according to how NATO develops as a crisis management organisation.
      The Swedish People’s Party appears to be equally split between supporters and opponents of NATO membership. Pro-NATO figures within the party include its chairman, Stefan Wallin, the minister of Culture and Sports, and the chair of the Parliamentary group of the Swedish People’s Party, Ulla-Maj Wideroos.
     
The largest opposition party, the Social Democrats, take the line that Finland should not join NATO, but the option to do so should be kept open. Most of the party’s Parliamentary group feel this way. Only Liisa Jaakonsaari is outspoken in her support of membership.
      At the opposite end is former Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, who feels that the time is not right to even talk about the matter. Kimmo Kiljunen would want to remove even the possibility of membership from Finland’s options.
      The Left Alliance and the True Finns are overtly anti-NATO. The Christian Democrats feel that the time is not right for membership, but that the possibility should be left open.
      Many Members of Parliament say that they will reconsider their stand when the report on the impact of NATO membership becomes ready later this year.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Poll: Finns increasingly uncertain over NATO; no increase in fear of Russia (11.9.2007)
  Antti Sierla to draft NATO report (23.8.2007)
  Foreign Minister Kanerva: This government will not apply for NATO membership (26.4.2007)
  Minister Kääriäinen: Finland must spend more on defence, or join NATO (2.11.2006)
  Estonia’s NATO Ambassador: Small country´s voice is heard in organisation (5.4.2006)

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