Grote meerderheid in Fins parlement voorstander Europese grondwet (en)

A broad alliance of political parties in Finland is set to ratify the European Constitution following a debate in the Finnish Parliament on Tuesday (22 June).

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen reported to the MPs on the new Constitution, which was agreed last Friday (18 June) among heads of states gathering in Brussels.

All parties in the Riksdagen want to accept the Constitution, except the Finnish Left Alliance, which is split on the issue and the Finnish Christian Democrats who do not take a stand.

Only the tiny party of True Finns 'Sannfinländarna' which holds one seat in the Finnish Parliament is directly opposed to the European Constitution, Swedish language daily Hufvudstadsbladet reported.

While the governing parties and also the main opposition parties appear ready to accept the new European Constitution, there is still some discussion over whether to hold a referendum.

The Left Alliance, the Finnish Green party and Sannfinländarna urged a referendum on the Constitution, but they hold too few seats in the Riksdagen to get their way.

The Constitution was agreed among heads of states last week in Brussels and it is likely that ten EU countries will hold a referendum before ratifying it, while the rest will ratify it through national parliaments.