Country in Scandinavia, bounded N by Norway, E by Russia, S and W by the Baltic Sea, and NW by Sweden.
government
Finland is a republic that combines a parliamentary system with a strong presidency. The single-chamber parliament, the Eduskunta, has 200 members, elected by universal suffrage through a system of proportional representation, for a four-year term. The president is elected for six years by a 301-member electoral college, chosen by popular vote in the same way as the parliament. The president appoints a prime minister and a cabinet (called a council of state), whose members are collectively responsible to the Eduskunta.
The relationship between the president, prime minister, and council of state is unusual, with the nearest equivalent to be found in France. The president has supreme executive power and can ignore even a unanimous decision reached in the council of state, but the prime minister is concerned with the day-to-day operation of the government, so that to some extent they can, at times, both act as heads of government. Both the president and the Eduskunta can initiate legislation and the president has a right of veto, though this can be overruled by a newly appointed parliament.
Because of the system of proportional representation, there is a multiplicity of parties, and the prime minister invariably heads a coalition council of state, typically among four parties.
history
The nomadic Saami, or Lapps, were the earliest known inhabitants; from about the 1st century BC they were gradually driven north by Finnic nomads from Asia into the far northern region they occupy today. The area was conquered in the 12th–13th centuries by Sweden, and for much of the next 200 years the country was the scene of wars between Sweden and Russia. As a duchy of Sweden, Finland was allowed a measure of autonomy, becoming a grand duchy 1581. In 1809, during the Napoleonic Wars, Finland was invaded and annexed by Russia; nationalist feeling grew, and the country proclaimed its independence during the 1917 Russian revolution. The Soviet regime initially tried to regain control but acknowledged Finland's independence 1920.
Winter War
In 1939 the USSR's request for military bases in Finland was rejected, and the USSR invaded Finland. The resulting Winter War lasted for 15 weeks. Finland was defeated and forced to cede territory. In the hope of regaining it, in 1941 it joined Nazi Germany in attacking the USSR, but agreed to a separate armistice 1944. It was again forced to cede territory (12% of its total area) and agree to huge war reparations; in 1948 it signed the Finno-Soviet Pact of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance (the YYA Treaty). War reparations to the USSR were paid off 1952 (amounting to 5% of the gross domestic product 1945–48). In 1955 Finland joined the United Nations and the Nordic Council (which includes Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden).
neutrality
The YYA Treaty was extended 1955, 1970, and 1983. Although the Treaty requires it to repel any attack on the USSR through Finnish territory by Germany or its allies, Finland maintained a policy of strict neutrality. It signed a trade treaty with the European Community 1973 and a fifteen-year trade agreement with the USSR 1977. In 1989 it was admitted into the Council of Europe.
short-term governments
Finnish politics have been characterized by instability in governments, over sixty having been formed since independence, and minority coalitions. The presidency, on the other hand, has been very stable, with only three presidents in over thirty years. Urho Kekkonen was elected president 1956 and reelected 1962, 1968, and 1978. In 1981 he resigned from office on health grounds and Mauno Koivisto became president Jan 1982; Koivisto was reelected 1988. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Center Party (KP) dominated Finland's coalition politics for many years, but the 1987 general election resulted in the SDP entering government in coalition with their arch enemies, the Conservatives, while the KP was forced into opposition. In 1994 Martti Ahtisaari of the SDP was elected president, and his party went on to win the March 1995 general election.
European Union membership
In 1992 the Finnish government agreed to apply formally for membership in the European Community (EC). The effects of the world recession and the disruption of trade with the former USSR led to the markka being devalued and cutbacks being made in the extensive welfare system. A national referendum Oct 1994 gave positive support to the application for European Union (formerly EC) membership and in Jan 1995 Finland became a full EU member.
Republic in northern Europe; Also called: Suomi. + prikaži više