Centre Party and Social Democratic Party win Parliamentary Elections in Finland

SAK President Lauri Ihalainen: Finland needs a capable majority government

The opposition Finnish Centre Party became Finland's largest single political force in parliamentary elections held in the country on Sunday 16 March. The Centre Party attracted the support of 24.7 per cent of voters in Finland's multi-party system. After eight years in power, the Finnish Social Democratic Party also increased its share of the poll to 24.5 per cent, but nevertheless lost narrowly to the Centre Party. The conservative National Coalition Party, a partner of the Social Democrats in government, suffered a clear electoral defeat. Another minor governing party, the Left Wing Alliance, saw its support fall by just under one percentage point to 9.9 per cent.

The long sustained trend towards falling turnouts in parliamentary elections was finally reversed. 69.6 per cent of the electorate cast their votes, representing an increase of about one per cent in voter activity compared to the last parliamentary elections in 1999.

The new Parliament will assemble on Wednesday 26 March, and negotiations to form a new government will begin immediately after these opening ceremonies are over. The general feeling is that the new government is likely to be formed sometime in mid-April.

The election campaign was overshadowed by the question of who would be Finland's next Prime Minister. The two principal contenders for this position were Anneli Jäätteenmäki of the Finnish Centre Party and the incumbent Social Democratic Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen. The appointee for the post of Prime Minister will be decided in the course of negotiations on the new government, and the formal appointment will be made by Parliament.

Lauri Ihalainen: Sustaining employment requires an extensive package of special measures

Commenting on the election result, Lauri Ihalainen, President of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions - SAK, called for a majority government capable of effective governance. SAK has expressed no preference as to the composition of the government or the name of the future Prime Minister:

"The new government will have to tackle the issues of employment, ensuring stable economic growth, preserving public services, and managing changes and generation shifts in working life. Sustaining employment in the prevailing uncertain situation will not only require economic growth, but also an extensive package of special measures, especially in the early stages of the new administration."

Ihalainen points out that the main issue for employees is the extent to which the new government adopts a sound policy of tripartite co-operation with labour market organisations.

In the course of their election campaigning all of the party political leaders expressed their commitment to tripartite collaboration with the social partners.

During the election SAK campaigned for a higher turnout, and its mass media advertisements continued right up to election day. Although the Finnish electoral system allows voters to cast their votes in advance, the overall increase in turnout compared to the previous parliamentary election was particularly marked on the election day itself.

36 members of the new Parliament are linked to the SAK-affiliated labour movement. 28 of these represent the Social Democratic Party and 8 are members of the Left Wing Alliance.