Finnish lawmakers divided on potential reopening of eastern border with Russia

If Finnish lawmakers were to decide today whether to reopen Finland’s eastern border, many would be at a loss for an answer. A recent survey conducted by Yle found that 43 members of parliament expressed uncertainty about their voting stance, while 86 did not respond to the question at all. Only 60 lawmakers clearly opposed reopening the border, and 11 supported it. In total, 114 out of 200 members participated in the survey, conducted from August 21 to August 28, 2024.

Currently, the border between Finland and Russia remains completely closed, a measure first implemented in November 2023 amid suspicions that Russia was facilitating a surge of asylum seekers into Finland. Newly appointed Interior Minister Lulu Ranne stated last week that there are still no conditions for reopening the border, as the situation has not changed. Over 1,300 asylum seekers have entered Finland since August 2023.

The survey indicates a significant level of trust among lawmakers in the assessments made by authorities regarding the border situation. For instance, Annika Saarikko of the opposition party Centre expressed her confidence in the Finnish Border Guard’s situation report, which is why she does not support reopening the border. Similarly, Henrik Wickström from the ruling party RKP agrees with keeping the border closed, although he acknowledges that the situation is unsustainable in light of international agreements.

Some lawmakers provided clear opinions without relying on classified information. Members of the ruling parties argue that the current state of affairs is a result of Russian actions and should remain until the Ukraine conflict is resolved. Conversely, the Left Alliance advocates for reopening the border, citing human rights considerations.