Elections in Finland

Elections are held in Finland on the national level to appoint the President of Finland, and the members of the Parliament of Finland.

Table of contents

1 Presidential Elections 1.1 Results 2 Parliamentary Elections 2.2 Results 2.3 Seats in Parliament 3 See also

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 February 2006. The Prime Minister of Finland is appointed by the president based on the vote in after parliamentary elections.

Results

Tarja Halonen was elected president in 2000. Percent of vote:

• 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.

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.

Results

Elections were last held on March 16, 2003 and the nexst 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

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

• Politics of Finland
• Government of Finland
• President of Finland
• Elections in Finland