Finland - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Finland, it was name may derive from the ancient Fenni peoples who are first described as living in northeastern Europe in the first centuries A.D.. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 19 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen, singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa (Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish) [South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish) [South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish); Kainuu (Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi (Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland]; Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish), Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland (Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere]; Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Osterbotten (Swedish) [Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia]; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish) [North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish), Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland]
National symbols
Lion; national colors: blue, white.
The flag
The National flag of Finland has white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the blue represents the thousands of lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow that covers the land in winter.
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The National Anthem
| Title | "Maamme" (Our Land) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS |
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note: in use since 1848; although never officially adopted by law, the anthem has been popular since it was first sung by a student group in 1848; Estonia's anthem uses the same melody as that of Finland
More about the government of Finland
| Date of Independence | 6 December 1917 (from Russia) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 6 December (1917) |
| Legal system | civil law system based on the Swedish model |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000 |
| Amendments | Proposed by Parliament; passage normally requires simple majority vote in two readings in the first parliamentary session and at least two-thirds majority vote in a single reading by the newly elected Parliament; proposals declared "urgent" by five-sixths of Parliament members can be passed by at least two-thirds majority vote in the first parliamentary session only; amended several times, last in 2018 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Finland |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 6 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Alexander STUBB (since 1 March 2024) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Petteri ORPO (since 20 June 2023) |
| Cabinet | Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament |
| Elections/appointments | president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); first round held on 28 January 2024 with a runoff on 11 February 2024 (next to be held by 28 January 2030); prime minister appointed by Parliament |
| Election results | 2024: Alexander STUBB elected in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Alexander STUBB (KoK) 27.2%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 25.8%, Jussi HALLA-AHO (PS) 19.0%, Olli REHN (Kesk) 15.3%; percent of vote in second round - STUBB 51.6%, HAAVISTO 48.4% 2018: Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote - Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | Parliament (Eduskunta - Riksdagen) |
| Legislative structure | Unicameral |
| Number of seats | 200 (all directly elected) |
| Electoral system | Proportional representation |
| Scope of elections | Full renewal |
| Term in office | 4 years |
| Most recent election date | 4/2/2023 |
| Parties elected and seats per party | National Coalition Party (KOK) (48); The Finns Party (PS) (46); Social Democratic Party (SDP) (43); Center Party (KESK) (23); The Greens (13); Left Alliance (Vas) (11); Other (16) |
| Percentage of women in chamber | 46% |
| Expected date of next election | April 2027 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (consists of the court president and 18 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 21 judges, including the court president and organized into 3 chambers); note - Finland has a dual judicial system - courts with civil and criminal jurisdiction and administrative courts with jurisdiction for litigation between individuals and administrative organs of the state and communities |
| Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court judges appointed by the president of the republic; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 68 |
| Subordinate courts | 6 Courts of Appeal; 8 regional administrative courts; 27 district courts; special courts for issues relating to markets, labor, insurance, impeachment, land, tenancy, and water rights |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Leena-Kaisa MIKKOLA (since 18 September 2024) |
| Chancery | 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 298-5800 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 298-6030 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission |
| Consulate(s) general | Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Christopher KRAFFT (since September 2024) |
| Embassy | Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki |
| Mailing address | 5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC 20521-5310 |
| Telephone | [358] (9) 616-250 |
| FAX | [358] (9) 174-681 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://fi.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Fortress of Suomenlinna (c); Old Rauma (c); Petäjävesi Old Church (c); Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c); Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki (c); High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Finland
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Finland
Want to know more about Finland? Check all different factbooks for Finland below.
