Presidential candidate Haavisto remains silent on controversial ‘return law’ despite Green Party’s unanimous opposition

Presidential candidate Pekka Haavisto of the Green Party has been repeatedly pursued for comment on how he plans to vote on the proposed ‘return law’. The Finnish Parliament will vote on declaring the law urgent and approving it on Friday. Atte Harjanne, the chair of the Green Party’s parliamentary group, stated that the Green Party’s position on the return law is negative, and to his knowledge, no one in the party supports it.

According to Harjanne, it is possible for someone to vote against the group’s stance as the Green Party’s parliamentary group does not enforce party discipline. However, he has not heard of any Green Party members supporting the law. The Green Party unanimously decided to oppose the law in their group meeting on Tuesday.

Haavisto has not taken a stance on the return law in parliamentary plenary sessions. He was present in the plenary session on Tuesday when the return law was discussed. Haavisto was reached out to for two days, but after asking what the matter was about, he did not follow up after being informed about the subject of the interview request.

Group leader Harjanne reveals that he is not aware that Haavisto would be absent from Friday’s vote. When asked about Haavisto’s personal stance, Harjanne advises asking Haavisto himself.

Members of the Social Democratic Party have recalled that Haavisto regarded the situation at the eastern border as serious before the presidential elections. He strongly criticized the government for its slow response at the eastern border and demanded a complete closure of the border.

During the presidential election debate on January 23, Haavisto stated that he would be prepared to use the push-back procedure at the eastern border if people crossed the land border violently, for instance, using weapons or clubs. The push-back procedure refers to the practice of routinely turning away international protection seekers from the country’s territory back to the country from which they are coming, without individual asylum grounds being examined.

However, Haavisto reminded in the debate that asylum applications should be processed as quickly as possible, ensuring human rights.

The proposed return law, which the parliament will vote on this coming Friday, was presented to the parliament at the end of May. The approval of the law requires its declaration as urgent by a five-sixths majority in the parliament, after which it can be approved by a two-thirds majority. The law is enacted as an exceptional law, which can make limited exceptions to the constitution for compelling reasons.