Finland ratifies EU constitution treaty

New to Raw Story? Click here to visit our home page for the latest news.

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday December 5, 2006

Helsinki- The Finnish parliament Tuesday ratified the EU's Constitutional Treaty with a clear majority. Finland, the current holder of the bloc's rotating presidency, became the 16th country to adopt the constitution.

The outcome was expected as the treaty had been supported by the ruling coalition of the Centre Party, Social Democrats and their junior partner, the Swedish People's Party.

Most members of the main opposition conservative National Coalition Party also backed the treaty while resistance was strongest among the Green Party, the Left Alliance, the Christian Democrats, and the True Finns.

A total of 125 members of the 200-seat legislature voted in favour of the treaty, 39 against and four abstained.

Seven parliamentarians from the Centre Party and Social Democrats broke party lines and voted against the treaty, the Finnish news agency STT reported.

The treaty must be adopted by all members of the bloc to take effect. Some critics said it was wrong to approve the treaty as there were doubts whether it would ever come into force after voters in France and the Netherlands rejected it last year.

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has, however, said a ratification would help future efforts to implement a constitution.

Last May, the Finnish parliament clearly rejected holding a national referendum on ratification.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency