Finland’s new expulsion law faces opposition from Social Democratic Party members over concerns of power shift to security apparatus

Timo Harakka, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) opposing the new expulsion law in Finland, argues that the “parliament is tying its own noose” with this legislation. Harakka believes the law, which was introduced to the parliament, transfers power that belongs to the parliament to the security apparatus that operates on secret grounds.

According to Harakka, the original proposal by Petteri Orpo’s government did not even grant the parliament the right to oversee decisions retrospectively, “which could endanger human lives at Finnish borders”.

Harakka criticizes the right-wing government for requiring a five-sixths majority for a proposal that was not prepared in parliamentary consensus and would have bypassed the parliament entirely. Harakka is one of six SDP representatives who publicly announced on Wednesday that they will vote against the expulsion law in the plenary session of the parliament.

Harakka applauds the SDP representatives sitting in the administrative committee, who, according to him, negotiated the possibility of information access and post-evaluation for the parliament. However, he points out that unlike the emergency law where parliament can overturn the government’s decree, no such decision-making power will be granted to the parliament.

“Parliament has the power to overturn the most fatal decisions of state leadership about war and peace, but not border situation resolutions that can violate international agreements and EU law,” Harakka summarizes.

He criticizes the constitutional committee for not demanding a role for the parliament. He also accuses the Ministry of the Interior of arguing that parliament should not handle confidential information, calling it contempt for parliamentary democracy.

SDP representatives had to apply for permission to vote against the expulsion law, differing from the group’s stance, by Wednesday evening. The vote on the expulsion law, which is intended to be enacted as an exceptional law requiring a more difficult constitutional amendment procedure, is scheduled for Friday at 12 o’clock in the plenary session. A five-sixths majority is required to declare the law urgent for approval.