Elections in Finland gives information on election and election results in Finland.

Finland elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a six year term by the people. The Diet (Eduskunta/Riksdag) has 200 members, elected for a four year term by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies. Finland has a multi-party system, with three strong parties, in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments.

In addition to the presidential and parlamentary elections, there are European Parliament elections every five years, and local municipal elections (held simultaneously in every municipality) every four years.

Presidential Elections

Main article: President of Finland

The president is elected by popular vote for a six-year term. An election was last held February 6, 2000 and the next will be held in January 15, 2006 (second round in January 29, 2006, if needed).

2000 results

Tarja Halonen was elected president in 2000. Vote shares in the second round:

• Tarja Halonen (Social Democratic Party of Finland) 51.6%,
• Esko Aho (Centre Party of Finland) 48.4%

Parliamentary Elections

Main article: Parliament of Finland

Finland's proportional representation system encourages a multitude of political parties and has resulted in many coalition-cabinets. The Prime Minister of Finland is appointed by the president, based on the vote in the parliamentary elections. Usually the chairman of the biggest party becomes the next prime minister.

In the parliamentary elections of 16 March 2003, there were two dominating parties: the Center Party (KESK) got 55 seats, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) got 53 seats, in the 200-seat Eduskunta. A new cabinet was formed by Center and Social Democrats together with the Swedish People's Party.

Election results 1907-2003

2003 results

Elections were last held on March 16, 2003 and the next ones will be held in 2007. Percent of vote per party:

• KESK 24.7% (Centre Party of Finland)
• SDP 24.5% (Social Democratic Party of Finland)
• KOK 18.6% (National Coalition Party)
• VAS 9.9% (Left Alliance)
• VIHR 8.0% (Green League)
• KD 5.3% (Christian Democrats)
• SFP 4.6% (Swedish People's Party)
• PS 1.6% (True Finns)
• SKP 0.8% (Communist Party of Finland)
• other 0.5% (Åland's representative)
• MVS 0.4% (Forces for change in Finland )
• LIB 0.3% (Liberals)
• EKA 0.2% (Pensioners for the People )
• KIPU 0.2% (Ecological Party )
• SKS 0.2% (Finnish People's Blue-whites )
• KA 0.1% (For the Poor )
• KTP 0.1% (For Peace and Socialism - Communist Worker's Party )
• SNKY 0.1% (Finland rises - People unite )
• YVP 0.0% (398 votes) (Joint Responsibility Party )

Seats in Parliament after the elections in 2003:

• 55 (Centre Party of Finland)
• 53 (Social Democratic Party of Finland)
• 40 (National Coalition Party)
• 19 (Left Alliance)
• 14 (Green League)
• 8 (Christian Democrats)
• 7 (Swedish People's Party)
• 3 (True Finns)
• 1 Åland representative

See also

• Government of Finland
• President of Finland
• List of political parties in Finland
• List of political parties in Åland
• Electoral calendar
• Electoral system

External links

• Finnish Ministry of Justice website about elections in Finland
• Electionworld
• Parties and elections in Finland
• Adam Carr's Election Archive