Cross-Party Majority for NATO Base in Finland

Several Finnish party leaders and candidates for the Riksdag election are positive towards the establishment of a permanent NATO base in Finland, reports Yle, who has carried out a survey.

The wish for such an establishment is most prominent in Finland's conservative party, Samlingspartiet, to which President Sauli Niinistö belongs.

PM Sanna Marin states that her party, Socialdemokratarna, does not rule out the possibility of a NATO base, but that the focus is now on concluding the accession process. Minister of Justice and party leader of Svenska folkpartiet (SFP), Anna-Maja Henriksson, speaks along similar lines, but perceives the establishment of such a base as "very unlikely".

The party leaders of Centern and Kristdemokratarna are supporters of a NATO base if it strengthens or is considered necessary for Finland's security. On the other side, the party leaders of Vänsterförbundet, Sannfinländarna, and De Grønne, oppose this type of establishment.

The Riksdag election will be held on the 2nd of April.