Government (Finland)
====================


     Long-form name:
         Republic of Finland
     Type:
         republic
     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 Soviet Union)
     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
     National holiday:
         Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
     Executive branch:
         president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of State
         (Valtioneuvosto)
     Legislative branch:
         unicameral Parliament (Eduskunta)
     Judicial branch:
         Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)
     Leaders:
       Chief of State:
         President Mauno KOIVISTO (since 27 January 1982)
       Head of Government:
         Prime Minister Esko AHO (since 26 April 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Ilkka
         KANERVA (since 26 April 1991)
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 18
     Elections:
       Parliament:
         last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1995); results - Center Party
         24.8%, Social Democratic Party 22.1%, National Coalition (Conservative)
         Party 19.3%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.1%, Green League 6.8%, Swedish
         People's Party 5.5%, Rural 4.8%, Finnish Christian League 3.1%, Liberal
         People's Party 0.8%; seats - (200 total) Center Party 55, Social Democratic
         Party 48, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 40, Leftist Alliance
         (Communist) 19, Swedish People's Party 12, Green League 10, Finnish
         Christian League 8, Rural 7, Liberal People's Party 1
       President:
         last held 31 January - 1 February and 15 February 1988 (next to be held
         January 1994); results - Mauno KOIVISTO 48%, Paavo VAYRYNEN 20%, Harri
         HOLKERI 18%
     Communists:
         28,000 registered members; an additional 45,000 persons belong to People's
         Democratic League
     Other political or pressure groups:
         Finnish Communist Party-Unity, Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional Rightist Party;
         Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI