It was only with a couple of votes in favour that the Social Democrats' membership meeting decided that they are against the mining company Talga's plans for the graphite mine, which is called Nunasvaara södra.
The Land and Environment Court will issue its decision on environmental permits on April 5 and there were votes at the members' meeting who felt that it should have waited for it before taking a position.
Several have already taken a stand
Councillor Mats Taaveniku, for example, expressed reservations about the decision.
Assuming everyone votes with the party line, there is now a majority against the mining establishment in the city council. The Left Party, the Feminist Initiative and the Sami List have already taken a stand in the past.
– We are opposed in principle to establishments on surfaces that direct negative claims to land, the environment and indigenous rights, says Christine Brännvall (Fi).
"We took a stand a couple of years ago after inviting Talga and listening to them," says Sanna Inga Poromaa (V).
Expecting a stop
The municipality can use the so-called planning monopoly if it wants to stop a mine.
– We expect that work on the detailed plan for the mining area will be stopped, says Åsa Larsson Blind, Sami list.
In the clip you hear Kenneth Nilsson in the Social Democrats about the discussion in his party about the mine.