MPs have not been briefed on Finland’s participation in the Nato nuclear deterrence exercise Steadfast Noon, which begins on Monday, the opposition party says.
The opposition Left Alliance has expressed its dissatisfaction over the lack of parliamentary debate on Finland’s nuclear weapons policy as a Nato member.
The Left opposes Finland’s participation in a Nato nuclear weapons exercise that starts on Monday. The two-week Steadfast Noon exercises include simulated nuclear attacks.
“Finland should not participate in Nato’s nuclear war exercises. It is up to Finland to decide how it participates in Nato’s deterrence policy, which is based on nuclear weapons. Many Nato member countries, such as Norway, have opted out of Nato’s nuclear war exercises for reasons of principle, and Finland should have acted in the same way,” the leader of the party’s parliamentary group, Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, said in a press release issued on Saturday.
“Insufficient information and decision-making power”
According to the party, Parliament has not been given sufficient access to information and decision-making power regarding Finland’s nuclear weapons policy. The party’s parliamentary group has submitted a written question on the matter.
“Parliament has the right to receive information about what kind of nuclear weapons policy the government is creating and promoting,” former health minister Pekonen said.
The Left Alliance was the most reluctant of Finland’s parties to approve the country’s Nato membership bid in 2022. After it was accepted as a Nato member last year, only half of the Left Alliance MPs voted in favour of membership, though the party was still a partner in the government that pushed for accession.
The Left Alliance was established in 1990 by former members of the Communist Party of Finland, among others.
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