No EU referendum debate please - we're Finnish
PERSPECTIVE
|
|
|
By Kaius Niemi
Attention, activists of the referendum movement - you who are touring Finland in your campaign bus next week. You sorry characters are hopelessly late!
At the Prime Minister’s reception on Friday it was clearly announced that no referendum on the EU constitution will be arranged.
The matter has been decided because that is the opinion of the key ministers of the three largest parties. The issue is cut and dried, even though it has not been debated in Parliament, where the government parties form a majority.
"A clear majority in Parliament are against a referendum", said Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre).
"This issue really has been decided politically. Now we should move over to other, more important matters to be handled in the EU", noted Parliamentary Speaker Paavo Lipponen (SDP).
This is a matter of fluid leadership, which is naturally a part of normal practical Finnish politics. What’s the point of complicating things with debate, when they can be handled more easily?
The whole process has been depressing to follow, even if one does not take a stand on the need for a referendum as such.
There have been those who have opposed holding a referendum because of a possible negative result. One example was shown by MP Kimmo Kiljunen (SDP). He taught the people in a paternal manner, that as a small country, Finland would be pushed aside by a negative result.
Kiljunen’s view seemed to be that misguided Finns might make a wrong choice.
There are also those, such as Friends of the Earth activist Leo Stranius, who felt that "the mutual agreement of the key ministers is one of the best reasons why a referendum should be held".
Stranius’ way of thinking suggests that the purpose of a referendum would be to serve as a protest of some kind.
The referendum question does not pit those with a negative view of the EU against those with a positive view.
Fortunately, the division has not strictly adhered to the old battle-lines between the political left and right.
Opinions are - or at least they were - divided in nearly all parties. It would have been interesting to follow the exchange of opinions, if there would have been an opportunity for that.
For instance, there has apparently been great support for a referendum among the rank-and-file of the Centre Party. However, those voices were quickly silenced once Vanhanen made his opinion known.
It is interesting to see what public debate will be like when Parliament begins to discuss the ratification of the EU constitution next year.
According to Vanhanen, "...the Parliamentary debate will be long, and will also give the people an opportunity to influence the formation of the opinions of their MPs."
The present Kaurismäki-esque "political debate" certainly does not give reason to expect very much.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 4.9.2004
KAIUS NIEMI / Helsingin Sanomat
kaius.niemi@hs.fi
|
| 7.9.2004 - THIS WEEK |
 No EU referendum debate please - we're Finnish |
|
