Niinistö Criticizes Marini’s Office for “Strange Proposals”
In his recent book “Kaikki tiet turvaan,” Finnish President Sauli Niinistö raises concerns about the “strange proposals” from Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s government concerning NATO matters. He highlights that these proposals began surfacing in October 2022 and suggests that they aimed to centralize power within the government regarding NATO-related legislation.
Niinistö’s Critique of Marin’s Office
Niinistö criticizes the Prime Minister’s Office for attempting to consolidate decision-making related to NATO issues. He points out a controversial proposal introduced in early 2023, which suggested appointing a new security policy advisor to the Prime Minister and establishing a security policy advisory unit within the government.
- This proposal faced backlash from various ministries, including the presidential office.
- Eventually, it was withdrawn due to the criticism it received.
In his book, Niinistö asserts that the Prime Minister’s Office sought to shift NATO decision-making power first to itself, and then to the government’s foreign and security policy committee. He expresses concern over a possible amendment to Section 93 of the Constitution that would have curtailed the President’s role in NATO affairs.
Legal Amendments and Concerns
Niinistö argues that the proposed constitutional changes aimed to sideline the President completely from NATO discussions. He describes efforts by the government to achieve a similar outcome through alternative means, given that constitutional amendments are a slow process.
The President was uncertain whether Prime Minister Marin was aware of these initiatives being prepared by her staff. The discourse surrounding who represents Finland in NATO and high-level meetings was also highlighted. Notably, Niinistö emphasizes that he had already attended NATO summits as Finland’s representative on three occasions.
The Joint Visit Controversy with Sweden
The book also addresses a misunderstanding involving a potential joint visit to Washington with Sweden, planned for May 18, 2022. Niinistö stresses that he would be unable to represent Finland in this scenario due to prior commitments, indicating that strategic timing was at play.
- Niinistö referred to this as amateurish political maneuvering.
- He noted that Swedish politicians might have misjudged the situation regarding Finland’s NATO application.
Positive Remarks on Marin’s Leadership
Despite his criticism, Niinistö praised Marin’s performance during a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. He recounted how Marin handled her role effectively, surprising him with her capabilities, especially given the high-stakes nature of the discussions on icebreaker purchases.
As a result of that meeting, Finland and the U.S. later agreed on a joint procurement of 11 icebreakers, four of which are set to be built in Finland. This development reflects a strong collaboration between the two nations despite political challenges.
In conclusion, Niinistö’s reflections in “Kaikki tiet turvaan” provide insights into the internal dynamics of Finnish politics regarding NATO, highlighting both the challenges and triumphs faced by the government.
