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SDP chairman Antti Lindtman demanded an answer from Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, which is the government’s foreign policy line in supporting women, girls and minorities. Jani Korpela

Chairman of the largest opposition party SDP Antti Lindtman demands the prime minister From Petteri Orpo (kok) answer Minister of Foreign Trade and Development City Tavion (ps) to the government’s deviating decision on Ukraine last week, especially when the president Alexander Stubb has intervened in the decision.

– Has the prime minister accepted Tavio’s policy and does the government intend to reevaluate this policy, Lindtman asked.

Lindtman told Orpo Iltalehte about his claim in the parliament on Tuesday, before Prime Minister Orpo came to the plenary session at three o’clock to answer MPs’ questions about next year’s budget.

In the plenary session, in addition to Lindtman, the same question was asked of the Prime Minister by other members of parliament from the SDP, as well as representatives of the center, the Greens and the Left Alliance from the opposition.

“A key element of foreign policy”

Tavio decided that Finland was left out of the equality alliance related to the reconstruction of Ukraine. MTV Uutisten, which was the first to report on the matter, according to sources, the reason was the alliance’s purpose to also promote the issue of gender and sexual minorities.

According to Lindtman, it has been crystal clear in Finland’s foreign policy that Finland supports Ukraine very strongly and that the rights of women, girls and minorities are a key element of Finland’s foreign policy.

– The foreign policy of a small country consists of what has been decided together and also of the actions taken by individual ministers.

Lindtman praised Stubb’s intervention

Lindtman thought it was good that the president of the republic Alexander Stubb intervened in Tavio’s activities.

– It is rare that the president has to intervene in the affairs of a minister working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this way. As far as I can remember, that hasn’t happened in ages, Lindtman said.

The President of the Republic, Alexander Stubb, told the Finnish media in New York on Monday that Finland will continue to support Ukraine in equality issues as before.

Stubb said that he was not aware of Tavio’s decision and that the information to the president of the republic and the president’s office was not circulated in this individual case.

The center hoped to correct the decision

Chairman of the SDP parliamentary group Titti Tuppurainen reminded in the debate of the plenary session that the entire nation has stood unitedly behind the support of Ukraine.

– Now this support has become distorted. By his own decision, Minister Tavio has left Finland out of the equality forum for the reconstruction of Ukraine. This is a significant departure from Finland’s line, which includes supporting the rights of girls, women and minorities always and everywhere.

Chairman of the center Antti Kaikkonen according to Finland’s Ukraine policy, confusion has now arisen.

– I recommend that you correct that decision and come back to the matter. It is important that we are consistent on these issues, Kaikkonen said.

Chairman of the Green parliamentary group Oras Tynkkynen you mentioned that Minister Tavio has reasoned that choices have to be made and that not all alliances can be entered into.

– However, it is about supporting Ukraine and the alliance that the Ukrainian government has been establishing itself. Prime Minister, can you assess that if it is indeed the case that leaving this alliance is due to allocations, would it be something that we could resolve together here, that when Ukraine asks, we are involved and we are supportive.

Green MP Hanna Holopainen also pointed out that Tavio’s decision deviates from Finland’s long line of foreign policy.

Orpo was in contact with Stubb

Prime Minister Orpo began his answer to the budget questions with the Ukraine theme, which emerged strongly.

– The Finnish government and the entire parliament are strongly committed to supporting Ukraine. The 25th military support package was just completed. At the same time as this more terrible decision, Minister Tavio made a decision on the funding of four million for Ukraine support, which is specifically about humanitarian support, Orpo said.

According to Orpo, in supporting Ukraine, Finland’s line strongly includes the rights and support of girls and women.

– This single decision has not changed Finland’s policy. Minister Tavio made the decision within his own authority.

Orpo said that he has agreed together with the president of the republic that the matter and Finland’s foreign policy line in general will be discussed in the tp-utt. TP-utva is a joint meeting of the Foreign and Security Policy Ministerial Committee and the President of the Republic.

Stubb defended the UN vote

Stubb also defended Finland’s vote in the UN General Assembly last Wednesday, which was criticized by the fundamental Finns and Christian Democrats of the governing parties.

According to Stubb, Finland did the right thing when it supported the statement demanding Israel to end the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories within a year.

– Finland’s voting decision was completely correct, when the international court has been of the opinion that Israeli settlements are illegal. In previous votes concerning Palestine, Finland has taken a different line compared to many comparison countries, Lindtman said.