PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Russia Warns Sweden and Finland Against NATO Membership
Old 15th Jun 2014, 08:22
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finncapt
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Finland
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Living in Finland and being married to a Finn, perhaps I can give my opinion.

The matter of NATO membership is discussed continuously here.

In the last few years Finland has been moving to the right.

At the moment, the President and the strongest party (Kokoomus - similar to the UK Conservatives) lean toward joining NATO.

Historically the SDP has run the government and held the presidency.

They traditionally played both sides and recently it has been suggested that, at least one, ex President was too close to the Russians.

Together with the centre and left parties they are against joining NATO.

The other main party is the True Finns (akin to UKIP), they are rising in popularity because of their charismatic (for want of a better word) leader Timo Soini.

Like many of their policies I am not sure whether they are for or against NATO membership - they seem to be hedging their bets.

Unless things change they and the right will be the main, governing, parties after the next election (2015?) - the Socialist parties are waning in popularity.

People are getting fed up with more taxes to fund social handouts and Southern Europeans (it's all south of Finland!!).

Will Finland join NATO - probably not unless Sweden decides to join (my view).

The Finns I know do not trust the Russians, both collectively and individually.

They see them as bullies in the world.

Burglaries, car stealing etc - it must have been a Russian!!

Finns perceive them as buying up all the summer cottages.

Likewise, most Finns I know cannot understand why the US, and to a lesser extent the EU countries, seem to insist on getting involved in "other peoples wars".

Basil

In my view not many Finns speak Russian.

Swedish (Finland's second official language - about 6% speak Swedish as their mother language and go to Swedish speaking schools) is (was until last year?) compulsory in all Finnish schools.

Most people speak English, having learnt it at school, and a few of the older generation can speak German (hang over from WW2).
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