ic

Capital: Helsinki

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (laanit, singular--laani);
Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Lanni, Lansi-Suomen Laani,
Lappi, Oulun Laani

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 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)
head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April
1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
president, responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA
January 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed
from the majority party by the president after parliamentary
elections
election results: Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of
vote--Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200
seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis
to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 21 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--Social Democratic Party
22.9%, Center Party 22.5%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party
21.0%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.9%, Swedish People's Party
5.1%, Green Union 7.2%, Finnish Christian League 4.2%; seats by
party--Social Democratic Party 51, Center Party 48, National
Coalition (Conservative) Party 46, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 20,
Swedish People's Party 11, Green Union 11, Finnish Christian League
10, other 3

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

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League and

Political pressure groups and leaders: Finnish Communist

International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,