Book Reveals Sanna Marin Shocked by Sauli Niinistö

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Book Reveals Sanna Marin Shocked by Sauli Niinistö

Sanna Marin, former Prime Minister of Finland, shares significant insights about the NATO membership process of Finland in her upcoming book, “Toivo on tekoja.” One of the most shocking moments during this process involved former President Sauli Niinistö.

Key Events in Finland’s NATO Process

Marin describes a critical moment during the early negotiations when Niinistö’s statement caused profound surprise. Her reaction was immediate after Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Marin recognized that the era of military non-alignment for Finland had come to an end.

Shocking Communication from Sauli Niinistö

In February 2022, Sauli Niinistö was serving as President while Sanna Marin was the Prime Minister.
Marin expressed her disappointment when Niinistö indicated that NATO discussions were solely the responsibility of Parliament.
This response left Marin momentarily speechless, a rare occurrence during her tenure as Prime Minister.

Marin conveyed her concerns to her cabinet, showing her disappointment to the four other leaders present at the Government Palace on February 28, 2022.

Turning Point in Discussions

Fortunately, Marin’s discomfort was short-lived. On March 2, 2022, Niinistö engaged in discussions regarding the security policy situation with leaders from various parliamentary groups. Marin noted a sense of relief regarding this shift from the initial response she had received.

Conflict with Li Andersson

Marin highlighted another tense moment involving Li Andersson, the then-chair of the Left Alliance. On March 1, 2022, a meeting intended to discuss preparedness legislation pivoted to a dialogue on the pressing security situation.

Anderson expressed her outrage about the agenda change.
She firmly stated that her party would not engage in any NATO discussions.

In an effort to calm Andersson, Marin encouraged her to participate, arguing that this involvement would allow her party to voice their concerns.

Final Vote on NATO Membership

Ultimately, the Finnish Parliament voted on NATO membership in early March 2023. The outcome was overwhelmingly in favor, with 184 votes in support and only 7 against. Seven representatives were absent, while one abstained from voting.