Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Saturday said that the four-party alliance government is not preparing to recognise the Palestine as a state at this moment.
“The government is not currently preparing to recognize Palestine,” said the Premier while addressing the council of Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party) in Helsinki, adding that his government is working to ensure that whether the terms and conditions for the recognition are met.
Orpo made the remarks following disagreement among the ruling parties when different countries including France, Britain and Canada announced to recognise Palestine as a state next month.
Two components of the four-party alliance government- radical rightist Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) and Suomen Kristillisdemokraati (Christian Democratic Party-CD) are strongly opposing the recognition while most of the opposition parties are supporting the recognition of Palestine as a state.
Orpo, however, said that his party is committed to a two-state solution of the crisis in Palestine and it will include the issue of recognising the state of Palestine when the logical time will come.
Pointing out the view of President Alexander Stubb, who expressed his readiness in July to recognise a Palestinian state, if the government were to propose it, Orpo said that the issue needs further discussion within the cabinet.
He also admitted that the ruling parties are divided on the issue.
“Recognition can only be made once, so it must be considered carefully,” the Prime Minister added.
Terming the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as devastating, he emphasised to ensure aid distribution among the civilians.
Orpo also urged Israel to reconsider its plan for taking control of Gaza City saying that that it would not help the situation.
According to a recent survey, majority of the lawmakers in Finnish parliament support recognition of Palestine as a state.
As of March 2025, the State of Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 147 member countries of the United Nations out of the total 193 member states.
- Finland
- recognition
- Palestine
- Orpo
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
