Executive branch:
chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994);
election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held January
2000); results - Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April
1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
cabinet: Council of State (Valtioneuvosto); appointed by the
president, responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Eduskunta): elections last held 19 March 1995 (next to be
held March 1999); results - Social Democratic Party 28.3%, Center
Party 19.9%, 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%, Young Finns 2.8%; seats - (200 total)
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, Finnish
Christian League 7, Young Finns 2, Aaland Islands 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)
Political parties and leaders:
government coalition: Social Democratic Party, Paavo LIPPONEN;
National Coalition (conservative) Party, Sauli NIINISTO; Leftist
Alliance (Communist) People's Democratic League and Democratic
Alternative, Claes ANDERSON; Swedish People's Party, (Johan) Ole
NORRBACK; Green League, Pekka HAAVISTO
other: Center Party, Esko AHO; Finnish Christian League, Toimi
KANKAANNIEMI; Rural Party, Tina MAKELA; Liberal People's Party,
Tuulikki UKKOLA; Greens Ecological Party (EPV); Young Finns
Other political or pressure groups: Finnish Communist Party-Unity,
Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party;
Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC,
CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA (associate), EU, FAO, G- 9, GATT, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, 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, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka VALTASAARI 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
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki mailing address: APO AE 09723 telephone: [358] (0) 171931 FAX: [358] (0) 174681
Flag: white with a blue cross that extends 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)
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