ASEM 6 : Political system

Political system

Finland is a republic with a single-chamber parliament of 200 members and a President who is the head of state and elected every six years by direct popular vote. The legislative powers are exercised by the Parliament, which shall also decide on State finances. The governmental powers are exercised by the President of the Republic and the Government, the members of which shall have the confidence of the Parliament. The same person may be elected President for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

Parliament

The Parliament Building is situated in central Helsinki. The building was inaugurated in 1931. (Parliament of Finland/Joanna Moorhouse)

Members of Parliament are elected by direct popular vote, in a secret ballot, on the basis of proportional representation. The electoral period is four years.

In the most recent elections, in March 2003, the Centre Party and the Social Democratic Party won the majority of seats.

Parties and number of MPs:
- Centre Party: 55 MPs
- Social Democratic Party: 53 MPs
- National Coalition Party: 41 MPs
- Left Alliance: 19 MPs
- Green League: 14 MPs
- Swedish People’s Party of Finland: 9 MPs
- Christian Democrats: 6 MPs
- True Finns: 3 MPs

In 1906, Finland adopted a parliamentary system based on universal suffrage and became the first country in Europe to give women the right to vote and stand for office in parliamentary elections. At the same time, Finnish women were the first in the world to obtain full political rights. A total of 19 women were elected in the first parliamentary elections. Currently, 38% of MPs at the Finnish Parliament, chaired by Speaker Paavo Lipponen, are women.

President of the Republic

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen (The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland)

The incumbent, Tarja Halonen, was elected Finland’s first woman President in 2000. Her predecessors have been:

Martti Ahtisaari (1994-2000)
Mauno Koivisto (1982-1994)
Urho Kekkonen (1956-1982)
Juho Paasikivi (1946-1956)
C.G.E. Mannerheim (1944-1946)
Risto Ryti (1940-1944)
Kyösti Kallio (1937-1940)
Pehr Svinhufvud (1931-1937)
Lauri Relander (1925-1931)
Kaarlo Ståhlberg (1919-1925)

The Government

The Finnish Government, led by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, has 18 ministers. (Prime Minister's Office/Janne Suhonen)

The present Government, appointed on 24 June 2003, is a coalition formed by the Centre Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Swedish People’s Party. The Government is led by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who is the leader of the Centre Party.

The Government has 18 ministers:
- Matti Vanhanen, Prime Minister
- Eero Heinäluoma, Minister of Finance, Minister deputising for the Prime Minister
- Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Paula Lehtomäki, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development
- Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Justice
- Kari Rajamäki, Minister of the Interior
- Hannes Manninen, Minister of Regional and Municipal Affairs
- Seppo Kääriäinen, Minister of Defence
- Ulla-Maj Wideroos, Coordinate Minister of Finance
- Antti Kalliomäki, Minister of Education
- Tanja Karpela, Minister of Culture
- Juha Korkeaoja, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
- Susanna Huovinen, Minister of Transport and Communications
- Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Trade and Industry
- Tuula Haatainen, Minister of Social Affairs and Health
- Liisa Hyssälä, Minister of Health and Social Services
- Tarja Filatov, Minister of Labour
- Jan-Erik Enestam, Minister of the Environment