Finland Times

President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö. Photo – Lehtikuva.

President Sauli Niinistö on Friday turned down claims by Vihreä Liito (Green League) chief Ville Niinistö that Finland’s approval of the Fennovoima nuclear power plant is aimed at appeasing Russia.

Speaking to the national broadcaster YLE, the president said the country has a clear policy which has nothing to do with Finlandisation.

 

The outgoing Environment Minister Ville Niinistö, who along with his party ministers resigned from the five-party alliance government on Thursday, had told the UK-based newspaper Financial Times on Wednesday that Finland was putting Russian interests ahead of its own values and returning to the days of Finlandisation, a policy of Soviet appeasement practised during the Cold War.

The president did not express his opinion on whether his nephew (Ville Niinistö) had gone too far in his comments by suggesting Finlandisation.

The president however does not consider the Fennovoima nuclear power plant a Russian project and reminded that the issue does not fall under his jurisdiction.

“It is a Finnish project in Finland,” said the president referring to the power plant in Pyhäjoki.

According to him, Finland’s alleged dependence on Russia is natural. “Neighbours are more dependent on each other than countries distanced apart, and we also have close economic relationship with Sweden, although in a different sector.”

On Thursday, the Green Party quit the five-party ruling alliance following the government’s decision to approve the Fennovoima nuclear power plant.