More than 56,000 signatures on a petition to hold a referendum on Finland’s accession to NATO from February 21 allow it to be submitted to the country’s parliament for consideration, the civil initiatives website said on Saturday, February 26.
“We propose holding a consultative referendum on Finland’s NATO membership in accordance with Article 53 of the Constitution. Below we will submit a bill on a referendum to the parliament,” the text of the document says.
Finland announced its intention to apply for membership in NATO if the issue of national security becomes acute. Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced this on Wednesday, February 23, at a meeting of the country’s parliament.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto indicated on 9 February that Finland retains the right to apply to join NATO, depending on the situation.
On February 2, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said that the country’s authorities do not see a military threat, the country intends to continue building partnerships with all neighboring states. Despite growing tensions in Europe, Finland’s international position is good, he said.
On January 13, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that, if desired, Finland and Sweden would be able to quickly join the bloc, as they meet many of the standards of the North Atlantic Alliance. After that, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said that the country does not yet plan to discuss the possibility of joining the alliance. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson also noted the government’s lack of intention to change its foreign policy line and declare the need to join NATO.
These statements by Stoltenberg about readiness to quickly accept Sweden and Finland into the alliance are aimed at exerting pressure on the policies of these countries, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on January 21.
