Parliament
The Finnish Parliament’s roots stretch back for centuries. In 1362 Finland, as an eastern province of Sweden, received the right to send representatives to the election of the Swedish king. On the basis of the Swedish constitution of 1634 and the first Diet Act, Finland’s four estates – nobles, clergy, burghers and peasants – were also entitled to send representatives to the Diet in Stockholm. Russia wrested control of Finland from Sweden in the war of 1808–1809. Even before the end of hostilities Czar Alexander I invited the Estates to a Diet in Porvoo. Finland enjoyed an autonomous status within the Russian empire. The nation was guaranteed the right to have its own constitution and to keep its own legislation, social system and Lutheran religion. The Grand Duchy of Finland received its own administrative organs in the form of the Senate (or government) and departments (or ministries). A number of government agencies were established. The next Diet was not convened until 1863, however. Although the Diet generally met every third year after this date, its position weakened in the late 19th century, when government circles in Russia wished to link Finland more closely to that nation. The 1906 Parliament Act was a monumental reform which replaced the old Diet with a 200-seat unicameral Parliament. It called for Members of Parliament to be elected directly and by secret ballot according to a proportional system based on districts, so as to improve regional representation. The vote was given to women and men over the age of 24. The right to stand for Parliament was also extended to both sexes, making Finnish women the first in the world to receive full political rights. When the first general election was held in 1907, 19 women were returned as MPs. (The parliament, 2001)
The foundation of independent Finland’s political system was created in 1917–1919 after the nation broke away from the Russian Empire, which fell apart in the final stage of the First World War. Following the October Revolution in Russia, the Finnish Parliament took supreme power in its own hands in November 1917. On 6 December 1917 Parliament approved the declaration of independence proposed by the Senate, which was headed by P.E. Svinhufvud. The republican constitution which was adopted in the summer of 1919 characterized Finland’s parliamentary system as follows: “Sovereign power in Finland belongs to the people, who are represented by Parliament.” Parliament as the nation’s supreme organ of state is the result of lengthy development in terms of structure and method of operation. The Finnish constitution succeeded in creating a flexible framework in which customs and practice shape the political system to meet evolving needs. The 1928 Parliament Act mainly brought the 1906 Parliament Act in line with new circumstances. Constitutional laws pertaining to Parliament remained more or less unchanged up to the mid 1980s. Since then rapidly changing conditions – such as Finland’s accession to the European Union at the beginning of 1995 – have also been reflected in the constitution. The republican constitution which was adopted in the summer of 1919 characterized Finland’s parliamentary system as follows: “Sovereign power in Finland belongs to the people, who are represented by Parliament.” Parliament as the nation’s supreme organ of state is the result of lengthy development in terms of structure and method of operation. The Finnish constitution succeeded in creating a flexible framework in which customs and practice shape the political system to meet evolving needs. The 1928 Parliament Act mainly brought the 1906 Parliament Act in line with new circumstances. Constitutional laws pertaining to Parliament remained more or less unchanged up to the mid 1980s. Since then rapidly changing conditions – such as Finland’s accession to the European Union at the beginning of 1995 – have also been reflected in the constitution. In a war act Parliament appointed Mannerheim to replace President Ryti, who asked to resign. The wartime Emergency Powers Act reduced Parliament’s role in decision-making. As in the other democracies which were caught up in the war, political and military leadership was in the hands of the war cabinet, which remained politically representative nonetheless. General elections had to be postponed as a result of the war, and the Parliament which was elected in 1939 continued to serve until 1945. The wartime majority Governments were based on broad political cooperation. Parliament effectively contributed to the management of the war economy. (The parliament, 2001)
Many new MPs were elected to Parliament in the first post-war elections in 1945. The People’s Democratic League, a new left-wing umbrella group which included the recently legalized Communist Party, returned 49 MPs. The three largest parties - the Social Democratic Party, the People’s Democratic League and the Agrarian Party - together accounted for three-fourths of all seats in Parliament.
Governments based on cooperation between these three parties directed the nation in the post-war years. Then for nearly 20 years Governments were formed around coalitions between the Social Democrats and the Agrarian Party, with varying success. The 1960s witnessed a return to cooperation among the big three, which became the basic solution in forming Governments for many years, regardless of election results. Since the 1980s the situation has become more parliamentary in the sense that the winning party in the election has clearly taken responsibility for forming the Government.
In addition to restoring relations with the Soviet Union, the post-war Government and Parliament had to get the nation back on a peacetime footing while resolving nearly insurmountable problems. War reparations had to be made to the Soviet Union, homes had to be found for over 500,000 Karelian refugees as well as war veterans, production machinery had to be modernized and other social obligations resulting from the war had to be met. A major social challenge was presented by an intense increase in the birth rate after the war. The “babyboomers” had to be provided education and later on jobs. Nowadays society must resolve new problems arising from the ageing of the population. (The parliament, 2001)
Foreign policy during the post-war era was directed with a firm hand by the President, and foreign policy generally took preference over domestic policy when interests clashed. Finland began a rapid process of industrialization after the war, with wood processing and engineering as the main branches of manufacturing. Compared with most western democracies the shift from an agrarian to an urban society occurred in a very short time, bringing various problems in its wake. On the other hand new prosperity allowed the introduction of social-policy measures so that by the 1960s Finland had developed into a Nordic welfare state in which service industries played a major role. Since the 1980s the nation has steadily evolved towards a modern information society.
Public administration grew considerably during the post-war decades as society became more diversified and new areas of life came under regulation. The central government’s planning and direction tasks were expanded particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s the current shifted in the opposite direction, with more emphasis being placed on decision-making at the local level. The tasks handled by public administration and the services arranged by society had to be trimmed considerably in the early 1990s, when the nation went through its worst slump since the depression of the 1930s. Deep structural problems in the national economy together with a sharp rise in the national debt led to a reevaluation of administration and services. As the nation’s supreme decision-making organ, Parliament was forced to make the adjustments required by the new situation. (The parliament, 2001)
Major changes in the international operating environment have also been reflected in Parliament’s tasks and position. Developments on the international political scene made it possible for Finland to become a member of the European Union at the beginning of 1995. In joining the EU Finland gave up part of its decision-making authority to a supranational body. The future development of the EU may lead to a further reduction in the scope of national legislation.
Economic integration also restricts the possibilities open to national decision-making. The new constitution which came into force in March 2000 clarifies Finland’s form of government and makes it easier for citizens to understand the nation’s political system, the division of powers and relations between key organs. The reform strengthens the position of Parliament and the Government in relation to the President. (The parliament, 2001)
Parliament passes legislation, decides on the state budget and supervises the activities of the Government and the agencies which operate under it. Parliament approves international treaties and participates in the national preparation of matters which are decided by the European Union. Certain state bodies such as the Finnish Broadcasting Company and the Social Insurance Institution also come under Parliament’s direct supervision. Finland’s 200 MPs are elected directly by secret ballot on a proportional basis. The electoral period is four years. Elections previously took two days but now are conducted on one day: the third Sunday in March. Voters can also cast ballots in advance and this option has steadily increased in popularity. The annual session of Parliament generally begins in February and consists of two terms. The spring term lasts until the end of June, while the autumn term lasts from the beginning of September to Christmas. The session can continue in January of the following year if handling of the budget has not been concluded. Parliament is in session 260 days a year on average. Guided tours of Parliament House are arranged for the public, and over 20,000 visitors are recorded yearly.