Finland Times

 

File Photo Lehtikuva.

Six Finnish lawmakers are against the refugee agreement signed between the European Union and Turkey, reports a survey conducted by the Finnish language news consortium Lännen Media. 

 

Those who have reacted negatively to the deal are Jussi Hallo-aho of Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), Heidi Hautala of Vihreä liitto (Green League ), Liisa Jaakonsaari of Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP), Merja Kyllönen of Vasemmistoliito (Left Alliance), Hannu Takkula of Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party), and Nils Torvalds of Suomen Ruotsalainen Kansanpuolue-RKP (Swedish People’s Party of Finland).

 

Some of parliament members, however, voiced their support to the agreement. They are Anneli Jäätteenmäki of Keskusta, Sirpa Pietikäinen of Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party), Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner of Perussuomalaiset, and Petri Sarvamaa and  Henna Virkkunen of Kokoomus.

 

SDP lawmaker Miapetra Kumpula-Natri is of the opinion that the agreement should be re-evaluated.

 

Torvalds, Takkula, and Kyllönen also did not support the negotiations with Turkey on visa liberalisation.

 

The visa-free entry requires approval of EU member states and the European Parliament. 

 

Turkey has said that if the visa exemption is not granted by the autumn, the country will quit the refugee negotiations.

 

Paavo Väyrynen (Keskusta) did not respond to the survey.