Those that want to build a nuclear power plant are accusing the Green Party of unpatriotic demands for alternative energy sources.

Niinistö: Finland giving Russians leverage (click here)

On Wednesday Niinistö told the Financial Times that building a new nuclear reactor with Rosatom, the contractor selected to deliver the Fennovoima plant, would increase Finland’s energy dependency on Russia. Rosatom currently owns some 34 percent of the plant.

“There is a sense of Finlandisation here. We are giving the Russians the very leverage they are looking for with the west and the EU. This puts us into a very vulnerable position . . . Bluntly speaking, it is totally bewildering that the rest of the government thinks this is OK,” he added.

On Yle’s A-Studio discussion programme Wednesday evening, veteran politicians Mauri Pekkarinen of the Centre Party, Pertti Salolainen of the National Coalition and the Social Democrats’ Jouni Backman unanimously roasted Niinistö for the comments, calling them “less than patriotic”.

Minister Vapaavuori also weighed in Thursday, condemning the Green chair’s statements as ”low” and  “below the belt”.

“It’s very confusing to talk about Finlandisation and these kinds of things when we consider that for example that I myself have long been a staunch supporter of NATO membership,” Vapaavuori added....

September 9, 2014
...The head of the Green league, (click here) who walked his party out of government on Thursday in opposition to a proposed new nuclear reactor, told Yle’s breakfast show that his party should have left cabinet in 2010, when an agreement-in-principle was reached over the construction of a plant in Pyhäjoki, western Finland....