Chairperson of the main opposition party Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) Antti Lindtman on Thursday strongly criticised the four-party alliance government for its reluctance to recognise a Palestinian state.
Speaking at a party meeting in Vaasa, he also warned to bring a no-confidence motion against the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) led government in the parliament, if the government fails to clarify its position on the recognition of a Palestinian state by early September, local media reported.
Pointing out the catastrophic situation in Gaza, the opposition leader urged the government to resolve the issue in the parliament, if the government is still in disagreement with the President in this regard, reported national broadcaster Yle.
“I firmly believe that there will be a majority in Parliament, even a clear majority to recognise a Palestinian state,” said the Yle report, quoting Lindtman as saying.
Referring to a ruling party, which denying Palestinian rights and has become a direct religious doctrine, the SDP leader held the government responsible for paralysing country´s decision making on foreign policy.
“Take immediate and concrete measures to create pressure on the Israeli government and finally clarify the line on recognising Palestine," he said, adding that Finnish foreign policy cannot remain in a state of paralysis.
Earlier on August 9, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that the four-party alliance government is not preparing to recognise the Palestine as a state at this moment.
President Alexander Stubb expressed his readiness in July to recognise a Palestinian state, if the government were to propose it.
Two components of the four-party alliance government- radical rightist Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) and Suomen Kristillisdemokraati (Christian Democratic Party-CD) are strongly opposing the recognition while most of the opposition parties are supporting the recognition of Palestine as a state.
Different countries including France, Canada and Australia already announced to recognise Palestine as a state next month.
According to a recent survey, majority of the lawmakers in Finnish parliament support recognition of Palestine as a state.
As of March 2025, the State of Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 147 member countries of the United Nations out of the total 193 member states.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
