Finnish MPs cut president's powers

(HELSINKI) - Finland's parliament on Friday approved a constitutional reform package that further limits the powers of the president and moves the country towards stronger parliamentary rule.

The bill was passed by a broad majority with 118 members of parliament in favour, 40 against, one abstention and 40 absent.

One of the biggest changes is that the constitution now specifies Finland will be formally represented within the European Union by the prime minister, thereby reducing the president's powers in directing foreign policy.

It also stipulates that any disputes between the government and the president will be settled by parliament.

In May, President Tarja Halonen, a Social Democrat who will step down early next year after completing a maximum two six-year terms, was critical of the reform.

"The changes being put forward could have a harmful impact on the consistency and sustainability of Finnish foreign policy. The limits to be placed on presidential powers have the result of increasing the powers of the government, rather than those of parliament," she said.

The bill was already approved by a simple majority by the previous parliament shortly before the April 2011 legislative elections, and a two-thirds majority was required for it to be passed Friday.

Finland is to hold presidential elections on January 22. Political analyst Tuomo Martikainen noted that one of the campaign themes appears to be the economic crisis plaguing the EU.

"The interesting thing is of course that now the leading presidential candidates ... are insisting that the president should have significant power in policy-making, particularly in EU matters," he said.

"I think this (law change) will arouse a serious controversy in Finnish politics if whoever will be the president wants to come on strong," he added.

The reformed constitution also explicitly recognises Finnish membership in the European Union for the first time.

Finally, the reform also strengthens direct democracy by introducing a citizens' initiative, in which 50,000 signatures will be needed to submit a new law proposal to parliament.