The Finnish administration is gearing up to propose an extension of the temporary deportation law aimed at preventing Russia from guiding asylum seekers towards Finland’s eastern frontier, as reported by various sources.
The draft proposal is set to be presented to the Council of State on Thursday.
This follows the original legislation implemented in July 2023, which passed with a slim margin and requires a five-sixths majority in Parliament for any prolongation.
The law permits Finnish officials to deny entry to asylum seekers at the eastern frontier under extraordinary circumstances, circumventing standard asylum protocols. The intended purpose is to counter what the government has termed ‘instrumentalized migration’ from Russia, based on intelligence from border officials that has not been made public.
Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns Party) introduced the proposed extension to representatives of parliamentary groups on Wednesday. According to Yle’s sources, party stances remain largely unchanged from last summer’s vote. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Centre Party are anticipated to endorse the extension. The Greens and Left Alliance continue to oppose it.
“The necessity to secure the border is just as urgent now as it was a year ago,” stated Tytti Tuppurainen, chair of the SDP parliamentary group. While six Social Democrat MPs opposed the law in 2023, party insiders suggest the extension is likely to pass if the final proposal aligns with previous justifications.
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Centre Party leader Antti Kaikkonen also indicated that his group would back the proposal, provided it is ‘well-articulated’. Green Party parliamentary group leader Oras Tynkkynen reiterated his party’s opposition, declaring that the law infringes upon Finland’s constitution, EU legislation, and international treaties. “We advocate for robust border security, but it must honor human rights obligations,” he remarked.
Legal experts and human rights organizations have criticized the initiative for violating the right to seek asylum. Multiple complaints have been lodged with the European Commission. The government seeks to extend the law until the end of 2026. However, Chancellor of Justice Tuomas Pöysti has urged ministers to offer more substantial legal and factual justifications for its continuation.
The initial iteration of the law was introduced amid rising pressure on the eastern border, following allegations that Russian authorities were facilitating the migration of asylum seekers towards Finland. Although the law was anticipated to allow border crossings to resume, this has not happened. The eastern border remains shut.