Finland Times

The Parliamentary Grand Committee has given the government a mandate to approve the third Greek bailout, Finance Minister Alexander Stubb said on Thursday.

The government parties united to support an estimated 82-86 billion euro 3-year aid package; however, the participation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not yet certain.

The country will strive to make every effort to ensure the participation of the IMF in the aid package, said Stubb.

There have been differences of opinion within the Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) ranks regarding the bailout.

Sebastian Tynkkynen, recently chosen as the third vice chair of the Finns Party, earlier said the party should quit the government, if the government does not insist on having Greece’s third rescue package arranged from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) procedure.

However, according to Sampo Terho, the chair of the Finns Party parliamentary group, the Finns Party MPs voted unanimously in favour of the package during the Parliamentary Grand Committee meeting.

Terho told reporters that the decision was heavy and difficult for the party, but nonetheless, they accepted.

“We understand that, whatever we would do, Finland alone cannot prevent the progress of this package, rather it can be driven through an emergency procedure,” Terho observed.

The Finns Party firmly opposed a new European rescue package during the spring elections.

Since then, the party chair Timo Soini has said the government cooperation should not come to a standstill due to one unfortunate issue.