The Social Democratic Party in power in Sweden gave the green light to a candidacy for NATO on Sunday, May 15, thus paving the way for a request for membership by the government, jointly with Finland. At an extraordinary meeting on Sunday, the leadership decided that the party would “contribute to Sweden’s candidacy for NATO”explain the Social Democrats in a press release, thus reversing the line of always.
However, the party specifies that it is opposed to the installation of permanent NATO bases and nuclear weapons on Swedish territory, which is not required to join the Atlantic Alliance. An internal consultation had revealed divisions within the party, with critical voices denouncing in particular a too hasty decision, in order to follow the Finnish calendar. But the green light from the party leadership was still awaited.
With the change of party line, a clear majority in favor of NATO is now assured in Parliament. The right was already in favor of this membership, as was the extreme right, which demanded that it be done jointly with Finland. An application with Helsinki is the “better for Sweden”Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democrats, Magdalena Andersson, commented at a press conference in Stockholm.
A little earlier, Finland had formalized candidacy. “It’s a historic day. A new era is dawning”said the Finnish President, Sauli Niinistö, announcing in Helsinki the decision of the Finnish executive to apply for membership.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to a dramatic leap in public opinion in favor of NATO in Sweden and Finland. The two countries had been out of military alliances for decades.
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An entry into NATO of the two Nordic countries, viewed with a very dim view by Moscow, would be proof that“an agression” like the invasion of Ukraine “don’t pay”Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday.