President Alexander Stubb has confirmed he is prepared to recognise the State of Palestine if the Finnish government formally proposes it.
Speaking to news agency STT, Stubb said the issue had reached a point where Finland must decide its position. “We have discussed this since October 2023. Now I see that the situation has progressed to where Finland must make its choice,” he said.
Recognition of a state is a presidential decision under Finnish law but requires a proposal from the Council of State. Stubb said he hopes Finland will join other Western nations in taking this step, especially if it forms part of a broader international movement.
France, Canada and the United Kingdom have all recently declared their intention to recognise Palestine during the UN General Assembly in September. Finland and Denmark remain the only Nordic countries yet to do so.
Stubb emphasised that Finland must act in a way that strengthens the Palestinian Authority and supports the two-state solution. He added that the recognition of Palestine should not legitimise Hamas, which Finland, like the European Union, classifies as a terrorist organisation.
“I believe we have reached a stage where recognition is one of the key ways to support the peace process,” Stubb said. He added that recognition by Finland alone would be symbolic, but as part of a coordinated international effort, it would carry more weight.
The president said he had regularly discussed the issue with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Stubb also reiterated his support for Israel’s right to self-defence, but said its actions in Gaza were not proportionate. “Collective punishment and starving civilians are not acceptable,” he said.
The matter has triggered internal conflict within the ruling coalition. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the government would deliberate carefully. In a written statement, Orpo said the recognition of Palestine should only happen if it would genuinely contribute to regional peace, stability and security. He repeated that Hamas must not have a role in any future Palestinian government.
The Prime Minister also noted the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “Civilians urgently need aid. Getting humanitarian assistance delivered is now Finland’s top priority,” Orpo said.
Despite Stubb’s comments, Orpo has not committed to presenting a proposal to the president. He said the government would consult allies and international partners before making any decision.
Internal divisions have intensified following Finland’s endorsement of a joint international statement encouraging recognition of Palestine. Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen confirmed Finland had signed the appeal, sparking criticism from coalition partners.
Christian Democrats chair Sari Essayah said the party had not agreed to the endorsement and reiterated that the party would not remain in a government that recognises Palestine. “There is no consensus on this issue. Our position has not changed,” Essayah said.
The Finns Party has also rejected the proposal. Its leader Riikka Purra said the party was sidelined in the decision to support the international appeal. “This situation does not justify recognition,” she told Yle.
Both parties have insisted recognition must be postponed until conditions on the ground change. Government sources say that within the coalition, the recognition of Palestine is considered a matter of principle and potential grounds for withdrawal.
Political analyst Johanna Vuorelma from the University of Helsinki said the dispute could threaten the government’s stability. “This is a potentially government-breaking issue,” she told Yle.
Vuorelma said the timing of the debate had caught the coalition off guard. “The future has arrived sooner than expected,” she said. She also suggested that the Finns Party may be seeking a break from the coalition line, particularly following recent election losses.
She warned that bypassing coalition partners on foreign policy decisions, such as the joint appeal, risked undermining Finland’s tradition of consensus-based policymaking.
Vuorelma said international pressure was growing. “This is not typical for Finland. There is both international urgency and a domestic deadlock,” she said.
The opposition welcomed Stubb’s stance. Green Party leader Sofia Virta praised the president for offering leadership during what she called a humanitarian catastrophe. She urged Orpo to follow suit.
“Petteri, the ball is in your court now. I trust you’ll get your government on the right side of history,” she said in a statement.
HT
