Protests Rise Against a Law Opening
Possesion of Nuclear Weapons in Finland
Ulla Klötzer and Lea Launokari / Women Against Nuclear Power

FINLAND (June 18, 2026) — Yesterday the parliament adopted the new nuclear energy law not only opening up for nuclear weapons — US and French ones — on Finnish soil, but also for easier procedures for building SMR (Small Modular Reactors).

The votes were 125 Yes, 61 No, 13 absent, 1 abstension (we have 200 parlamentarians).

Since we have a right–wing government with majority in parliament the result was expected.

This is a real dark moment in Finnish history. Our lawmakers made a complete turnaround against generations’ understanding of the importance of getting rid of nuclear weapons. They, without any democratic, open public debate removed the 1987 safeguard that prohibited the import, transport, supply and possession of nuclear weapons on Finnish territory.

Public opinion polls in Finland consistently show strong majority opposition to the presence of nuclear weapons in our country. A May 2026 poll conducted by YouGov found that only 18% of respondents supported deploying nuclear weapons in Finland, while 58% were actively opposed.

What was also really sad and frightening was that the main media was almost totally silent about the voting. Instead they made big news out of the green party female leader taking a leave from the work as a parlamentarian in order to instead take part in some stupid Reality TV show.

But in Finland we have parliament elections in spring 2027 and if we then will get a more left-orientated government with a majority in the parliament we will start an international campaign to change the law once again.

We will not give up! We will certainly need your help again!
Take care – stay strong

Ulla Klötzer and Lea Launokari – Women for Peace – Women Against Nuclear Power – Finland andActive in Global Women for Peace United Against NATO – GWUAN