Finland’s parliament votes yes to NATO

HELSINKI, May 17 (Reuters) - Finland's parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly accepted a proposal to apply for membership of the NATO army alliance in a historic coverage shift prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

President Sauli Niinisto and the federal government determined officially 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 application, Speaker Matti Vanhanen stated.

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Overseas Minister Pekka Haavisto stated the decision was no motive to rejoice because "there may be struggle in Europe".

"Finland's membership in NATO won't change our fundamental thinking that we are going to all the time seek peaceable solutions and we're a peace-loving nation that can initially search diplomatic solutions to each battle," he said throughout the debate.

Opponents to the appliance included some lawmakers from the Left Alliance, a part of Finland's five-party coalition, among them Markus Mustajarvi who challenged the decision with a counter proposal resulting in it being put to the vote.

"Our border would change into the border between the army alliance and Russia. New tensions wouldn't be a threat solely throughout the utility process but somewhat a new and permanent condition of our overseas and safety coverage," he said.

Early on Tuesday, the foreign affairs committee determined to affix the state management in proposing to parliament that the Nordic nation ought to apply for membership.

"Having heard a very massive number of specialists and having obtained the opinions of 10 (parliamentary) committees, the foreign affairs committee agrees with the government that Finland ought to apply for membership in NATO. This resolution 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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