finland

Country information

• EU Constitution
  Finland's parliament ratified the Constitution (05 December 2006) by an overwhelming majority (more).
  
  
• The Lisbon Treaty: to be ratified by the Parliament in Autumn 2008.
  
  
• EU Presidency: July-December 2006
  
  
• Government Type: republic
  
  
• Executive Branch
  
  � HEAD OF STATE
  President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
  
  � HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
  Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003)
  
  � MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
  Erkki TUOMIOJA
  
  � GOVERNMENT COALITION
   KESK, SDP, and SFP
  
  
• Legislative branch
  
  � ELECTIONS
  Last elections: 18 March 2007
  Next elections: March 2011
  
  � ELECTION RESULTS
  KESK 23.1% (51 seats)
  KOK 22.3% (50 seats)
  SDP 21.4% (45 seats)
  VAS 8.8% (17 seats)
  VIHR 8.5% (15 seats)
  KD 4.9% (7 seats)
  SPF 4.5% (9 seats)
  PS 4.1% (5 seats)
  Other (1 seat)
  
  
• Additional information
  
  � PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
  President elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 January 2006 (next to be held January 2012); the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament must approve the appointment