Constitution: 17 July 1919
Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994) was
elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 31
January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); results -
Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April
1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
were appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of State (Valtioneuvosto) was appointed by the
president, responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Eduskunta): elections last held 19 March 1995 (next to
be held NA 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), 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 League and 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; Greens Ecological Party (EPV); Young Finns, Risto
PENTTILAE
Other political or pressure groups: Finnish Communist Party-Unity,
Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional Rightist Party; 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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,
UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko 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