<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Finland<nl>Government</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Republic of Finland
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Finland
<item>• <hi format=ital>local long form:</hi> Suomen Tasavalta
<item>• <hi format=ital>local short form:</hi> Suomi
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> FI
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> republic
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Helsinki
<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 12 provinces (laanit, singular—laani); Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 17 July 1919
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> 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%
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Esko AHO (since 26 April 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Pertti SALOLAINEN (since at least January 1992)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of State (Valtioneuvosto); appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
<item><hi format=bold>Parliament (Eduskunta):</hi> elections 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
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>government coalition:</hi> Center Party, Esko AHO; National Coalition (conservative) Party, Perti SALOLAINEN; Swedish People's Party, (Johan) Ole NORRBACK; Finnish Christian League, Toimi KANKAANNIEMI
<item>• <hi format=ital>other parties:</hi> Social Democratic Party, Paavo LIPPONEN, acting chairman; Leftist Alliance (Communist) People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative, Claes ANDERSON; Green League, Pekka SAURI; Rural Party, Tina MAKELA; Liberal People's Party, Kalle MAATTA
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> Finnish Communist Party-Unity, Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> 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)