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Procaccini: Finland’s centre-right government a model for Europe

Speaking at the 'This is Europe' debate in Strasbourg in the presence of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, ECR Co-President Nicola Procaccini described the Finnish centre-right coalition as a working and constructive model for Europe.

Procaccini said that the endless and tiresome warnings from the European left, including the Greens, Socialists and the Renew Group, about the Finns Party’s participation in government had all been proved wrong. He praised Orpo for withstanding the pressure and demonstrating with tangible results for the good of his country and Europe.

“You have a firm and pragmatic approach to immigration and together you made the historic decision to join NATO, strengthening our common security on one of the most difficult borders of our continent and our freedom,” Procaccini said.

Procaccini’s speech in full:

Thank you, President, Prime Minister Orpo,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you on behalf of the European Conservatives. From here, your victory in the Finnish elections was more important than you can imagine. You defeated the rising star of the European Socialists, a leading exponent of Euro-green follies, an icon of the global progressive agenda.

And even more significant was your decision to govern together with the Finns’ Party, an influential member of our political family. You managed to resist the pressure of those who did not want to see an EPP and an ECR political force united. Because when the centre-right is united, it wins, everywhere in Europe. And the left knows this very well.

Unfortunately, they still sometimes manage to divide us. Do you remember the words of Paavo Haavikko? ‘When decisions are important, not everyone can make them.’ Fortunately, the left failed in Prague, Stockholm, Rome and Helsinki. And the facts tell us that your government is reviving the economy, cutting red tape, defending the family and preserving national traditions.

You have a firm and pragmatic approach to immigration, and together you took the historic decision to join NATO, strengthening our common security on one of our continent’s most difficult borders and our freedom.

This is Europe! This is the Europe we love, the Europe worth fighting for! Well done.

ENDs

Note to the editors:

The ECR Group is a centre-right political group in the European Parliament, established in 2009 with a common cause to reform the EU based on eurorealism, respecting the sovereignty of nations, and focusing on economic recovery, growth and competitiveness. From its 8 founding Member States with 54 MEPs in 2009, we now have 68 members from 17 EU Member States.

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