Finland Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form : Suomen Tasavalta
local short form: Suomi

Data code FI

Government type republic

National capital Helsinki

Administrative divisions 12 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi,Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa,Vaasa

Independence 6 December 1917 (from Russia)

National holiday Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Constitution 17 July 1919

Legal system civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislationinterpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994)
head of government : Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy PrimeMinister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsibleto Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election lastheld 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); prime ministerand deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of vote - Martti AHTISAARI54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%

Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected bypopular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 19 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999)
election results : percent of vote by party - Social Democratic Party 28.3%, Center Party19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 17.9%, Leftist Alliance (Communist)11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green League 6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%,Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian League 3.0%, Liberal People's Party 0.6%, YoungFinns 2.8%; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44,National Coalition (Conservative) Party 39, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22,Swedish People's Party 11, Green League 9, Ecology Party 1, Rural 1, FinnishChristian League 7, Young Finns 2, Aaland Islands 1

Judicial branch Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders
government coalition : Social Democratic Party [Paavo LIPPONEN]; National Coalition (conservative)Party [Sauli NIINISTO]; Leftist Alliance (Communist) People's Democratic Leagueand Democratic Alternative [Claes ANDERSSON]; Swedish People's Party [(Johan)Ole NORRBACK]; Green League [Pekka HAAVISTO]
other : Center Party [Esko AHO]; Finnish Christian League [Toimi KANKAANNIEMI];Rural Party [Raimo VISTBACKA]; Liberal People's Party [Tuulikki UKKOLA]; GreensEcological Party or EPV; Young Finns [Risto PENTTILA]

Political pressure groups and leaders Finnish Communist Party-Unity [Yrjo HAKANEN]; Constitutional RightistParty; Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party [Timo LAHDENMAKI]

International organization participation AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN,EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC (observer), NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG,OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UNTSO, UPU,WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission : Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 171931
FAX : [358] (9) 174681

Flag description white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the verticalpart of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog(Danish flag)

NOTE: The information regarding Finland on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Finland Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Finland Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.