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100-731: Väyrynen has been a member of the Finnish Parliament previously from 1970 to 1995, and again from 2007 to 2011 and has held many ministerial portfolios. He has also been a Member of the European Parliament from 1995 to 2007, and again from 2014 to 2018. Väyrynen has been the Centre Party candidate for Finnish president three times – finishing second in 1988 , third in 1994 and third in 2012 . In 2018 , he ran as an independent candidate finishing fourth. Väyrynen has announced that he will run for president for

200-465: A candidate for the Parliament. All registered parties are entitled to nominate candidates; individual citizens and independent electoral organizations must be endorsed by a sufficient number of voters through the form of supporter cards  [ fi ] to apply. In parliamentary elections, Finland is divided into 13 electoral districts . The number of representatives granted to each district

300-546: A candidate of the Seven Star Movement, but was not elected. Weeks after the election, Väyrynen announced that he would leave the Seven Star Movement. He still took part in the 2019 European Parliament election as a candidate of the party, but was not elected. In February 2020, Väyrynen rejoined the Centre Party. He has announced his willingness to seek chairman's position, if his nomination gains enough support. In April 2022, he announced his intention to run for

400-421: A constitutional change or changed to be in concordance with the constitution. In most cases, the latter route is chosen. The bills receive their final form in the parliamentary committees. The committees work behind closed doors but their proceedings are publicized afterwards. Usually the committees hear experts from special interest groups and various authorities after which they formulate the necessary changes to

500-478: A criminal investigation of the Constitutional Committee, but the parliament must accept the indictment by a majority of three-fourths and the charge must be treason , high treason or a crime against humanity . Members of the Parliament are not employees and cannot voluntarily resign or be laid off . They can be granted leave or dismissal only with the consent of the Parliament. Members of

600-401: A majority of five-sixths of given votes. For other crimes, they may be arrested or imprisoned only for crimes which carry a minimum punishment of six months in prison, unless the parliament gives permission to arrest the member. The members receive a monthly taxable remuneration ( palkkio ) of 7,137 €, which is raised to 7,494 € after four years of service and to 7,993 € after twelve years. It

700-655: A majority of votes. After the results were announced, Väyrynen commented that he was "extremely glad" for the results and said that he would take the seat in the Finnish Parliament that he had put on hold after the 2015 election during following spring. On 1 February 2018, Väyrynen announced that he would challenge the incumbent chairman of the Centre Party Juha Sipilä in the next party convention in June, and that he would return to Parliament after

800-525: A popular slogan in Finnish politics. After the presidential elections, Finland also held a referendum of the EU membership until late 1994. The Centre Party was split in the issue by the party leaders supporting the membership and Väyrynen campaigning fiercely against it. The Party Congress decided to support the membership and Väyrynen became a prominent opposition figure inside his own party. When Finland joined

900-709: A second apartment in Helsinki. MPs may travel for free within the country by train, bus, or plane for purposes related to legislative work. Within the Helsinki metropolitan area , they may freely use taxis. Eduskunta is responsible for its own finances and the Minister of Finance is obliged to include their proposal to the state budget as is regardless of their own opinion. MPs are aided in their work by personal assistants, although there are fewer assistants than MPs and not every MP has one. Assistants are formally employed by

1000-615: A simple majority in a single session. Treaties requiring changes to the constitution or changing the borders of Finland require a qualified majority of two-thirds. The matters relating to the jurisdiction of the European Union are decided by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament . However, as changes to European legislation are being prepared, the Parliament participates actively in formulating

1100-644: A single party: the Social Democrats in the 1916 election. Thus, for the Government to gain a majority in the Parliament, coalition governments are favored. These are generally formed by at least two of the three historically major parties: the Social Democrats, Centre, and National Coalition. Ministers are often but not necessarily MPs. The Parliament meets in the Parliament House (Finnish: Eduskuntatalo , Swedish: Riksdagshuset ), which

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1200-415: A smaller portion of the direct popular vote than expected—only 48.9 percent, rather than the 60 to 70 percent forecast by opinion polls during 1987. His failure to win more than half of the direct, or popular, vote with an 84 percent turnout meant that Koivisto could claim victory only after he had the support of a majority of the 301-member electoral college. This he achieved on the body's second ballot, when

1300-576: Is brought to the Grand Committee by the Finnish government when they have received notice of the proposal from the European Commission . The Grand Committee discusses the matter behind closed doors, and if appropriate, requests opinions from the committees of the Parliament. Both the Grand Committee and the specialized committees hear expert opinions while preparing their opinions. Finally, the Grand Committee formulates its opinion of

1400-444: Is either passed or dismissed. If the bill entails a change in constitution, the second session takes place only after the next election unless the parliament decides to declare the matter to be urgent by a majority of five-sixths. In constitutional matters, the bills are passed by a majority of two-thirds. In other cases, the simple majority of votes given is enough. International treaties requiring changes to legislation are accepted by

1500-419: Is legally a salary , with the exception that the remuneration is not subject to the unemployment insurance fee—as they not covered by the unemployment benefit system that is funded by the fees. In addition, all MPs automatically receive a tax-free compensation of expenses between 987 € and 1,809 € depending on the location of ones home. MPs from districts far from Helsinki can thus receive compensation for

1600-612: Is located in central Helsinki . The most recent parliamentary election took place on 2 April 2023. After the 2023 election the Orpo Cabinet was formed by the National Coalition , Finns and Swedish People's parties as well as the Christian Democrats . The Parliament's Finnish name is eduskunta , uncapitalized. The word was created in 1906 when the unicameral Parliament was established, with

1700-534: Is one member from Åland . Legislation may be initiated by either the Government or one of the members of Parliament. The Parliament passes legislation, decides on the state budget, approves international treaties, and supervises the activities of the government. It may bring about the resignation of the Finnish Government, override presidential vetoes, and alter the constitution. To make changes to

1800-408: Is proportional to its population, except for Åland , which always elects one representative. The provincial state offices appoint an election board in each electoral district to prepare lists of candidates and to approve the election results. The Ministry of Justice has the ultimate responsibility for holding elections. The President of Finland can call for an early election. As per the version of

1900-429: Is required to report such changes to the Parliament immediately. After the European Union has made a legislative decision that is to be implemented by the Parliament, the matter is brought back to the parliament as with usual legislation. At this stage, the Finnish state is committed to passing a bill fulfilling the requirements demanded by the EU, and the Parliament must vote accordingly. Every member of parliament has

2000-470: Is the unicameral and supreme legislature of Finland , founded on 9 May 1906. In accordance with the Constitution of Finland , sovereignty belongs to the people, and that power is vested in the Parliament. The Parliament consists of 200 members, 199 of whom are elected every four years from 13 multi-member districts electing 6 to 37 members using the proportional D'Hondt method . In addition, there

2100-580: The 1987 Finnish parliamentary election to form a new Centre-Right government after the elections if the coalition would gain a majority. However, at the same time, the National Coalition party had made a similar agreement with the Social Democrats. Even though the Social Democrats lost a bit of their support in the elections, they remained the biggest party and formed a new government with the National Coalition Party. Väyrynen

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2200-740: The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and the EuroFaculty , as Finland actively supported. Later, former Estonian prime minister Edgar Savisaar criticised that Väyrynen as a minister of Foreign Affairs with the Social Democrat president Mauno Koivisto and conservative party leader Harri Holkeri were more of a hindrance than a help in Estonia's independence process. During his ministry, Finland submitted its application for European Union (EU) membership. Nevertheless,

2300-529: The Finnish markka alongside the euro. Väyrynen was eliminated from the second round of the election (5 February), placing third on the first round (22 January) behind the Green League 's Pekka Haavisto by a close margin of 1.3% (37,000 votes). Soon after the presidential election, Väyrynen announced his candidacy for the chairman's position in the party congress in the summer of 2012. He

2400-635: The President of Finland . When the Soviet Union attacked Finland in the Winter War , in early December 1939 Parliament was evacuated and the legislature temporarily relocated to Kauhajoki , a town in western Finland far away from the frontline. The parliament held 34 plenary sessions in Kauhajoki, with the last on 12 February 1940. Another temporary relocation was seen during the renovation of

2500-868: The Riksdag of the Estates in 1809. When the unicameral Parliament of Finland was established by the Parliament Act in 1906, Finland was an autonomous grand duchy and principality under the Imperial Russian Tsar , who ruled as the Grand Duke , rather than as an absolute monarch . Universal suffrage and eligibility was implemented, making Finland the second country in the world to adopt universal suffrage. Women could both vote and run for office as equals, and this applied also to landless people, with no excluded minorities. The first election to

2600-703: The Speaker of Parliament and representatives of parliamentary groups about the formation of a new Finnish Government . According to the Constitution of Finland , the Parliament elects the Prime Minister , who is appointed to office by the President. The Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful politician in the country. Other ministers are appointed by the President on the Prime Minister's proposal. While individual ministers are not appointed by

2700-659: The independent state of Finland , and dag , meaning diet or conference. Before independence, until the Constitution Act of 1919 , the Parliament was known, in Swedish, as lantdagen (cognate of landtag , having the sense of "subnational assembly") which was the old term for the Diet of Finland . The Parliament of Finland was preceded by the Diet of Finland (Swedish: lantdagen ; Finnish: maapäivät , modern Finnish: valtiopäivät ), which had succeeded

2800-620: The Centre Party leadership once more, saying that he would run on a platform opposing Finnish accession to NATO. As an MEP, Väyrynen organised Europe education for young people and adults. Later, these lectures formed a base for a folk high school Pohjantähti in Lapland. Väyrynen bought an old retirement home in Keminmaa with his wife and renovated it into a school. However, the Finnish Ministry of Education did not financially support

2900-476: The Centre Party primary. After Väyrynen's victory, both Kuuskoski and Korhonen decided to run as independent candidates in the elections. Väyrynen finished third in the election and did not make it to the second round. He was highly disappointed with the result, especially when the results of early voting were announced. The opinion polls released by the media just before the presidential elections' first round had shown low support for Väyrynen, although in reality he

3000-492: The Constitution implemented very strong protections for political minorities, most changes in legislation and state finances could be blocked by a qualified minority of one third. This, in conjunction with the inability of some of the parties to enter into coalition governments, led to weak, short-lived cabinets. During President Mauno Koivisto 's tenure in the 1980s, cabinets sitting for the whole parliamentary term became

3100-606: The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. After 1982 Finnish presidential election and the 1983 parliament election, the Social Democrats had secured a hegemony in Finnish politics, holding both the President and Prime Minister chairs. To destroy the hegemony, Väyrynen made a secret agreement with the opposition forces (conservative National Coalition Party , the Christian League and Liberals) and Swedish People's Party of Finland before

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3200-417: The European Parliament, but would return to the Finnish Parliament, if he is given a cabinet position. In July 2015, Väyrynen launched a citizens' initiative to organize a referendum on whether Finland should remain in the euro zone. Väyrynen argued that the decision to join euro was a mistake. In January 2016, Väyrynen announced that he would leave all board positions in the Centre Party. He stated that he

3300-563: The European Union in 1995, the Finnish Parliament elected Väyrynen to the European Parliament. In the 1996 European Parliament election , Väyrynen was the candidate with the most votes–157,668–in the entirety of Finland. In the European Parliament, Väyrynen worked as the Vice Chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group. As an MEP, Väyrynen defended the European Union based on supranational principles and opposed

3400-413: The Grand Committee will first ask the other committees for opinions. If there is any concern about the constitutionality of the bill, the opinion of the Constitutional Committee is demanded. The Constitutional Committee works in non-partisan manner and uses the most distinguished legal scholars as experts. If the committee considers the bill to have unconstitutional elements, the bill must either be passed as

3500-613: The High Court of Impeachment for the duration of the parliamentary term. The Parliament has 17 committees. Most committees have 17 permanent members, except for the Grand Committee, which has 25; the Finance Committee, which has 21; and the Audit and Intelligence Oversight Committees, which have 11 each. In addition to these permanent members, each of the committees has a number of substitute members. On average, each member of

3600-472: The Parliament House in 2015–2017 when the Parliament convened in the neighbouring Sibelius Academy . The Constitution of 1919, which instituted a parliamentary system, did not undergo any major changes for 70 years. Although the government was responsible to the Parliament, the President wielded considerable authority, which was used to its full extent by long-standing President Urho Kekkonen . As

3700-405: The Parliament enjoy parliamentary immunity . Without the parliament's approval, members may not be prosecuted for anything they say in session or otherwise do in the course of parliamentary proceedings. MPs may not be prevented from carrying out their work as members of parliament. They may be charged with crimes they have committed in office only if the parliament gives a permission to that end with

3800-667: The Parliament is also a member of two committees. Most of the committees are special committees, while the Grand Committee deals with EU affairs, but also has a wider range of tasks. As Finland does not have a constitutional court, the role of the Constitutional Law Committee is to oversee constitutional affairs. The Committee for the Future is also noteworthy, as it does not usually deal with bills, but instead assesses factors relating to future developments and gives statements to other committees on issues relating to

3900-540: The Parliament was arranged in 1907. The first Parliament had 19 female representatives, an unprecedented number at the time, which grew to 21 by 1913. The first years of the new Parliament were difficult. Between 1908 and 1916 the power of the Finnish Parliament was almost completely neutralized by the Russian Tsar Nicholas ;II and the so-called "sabre senate" of Finland, a bureaucratic government formed by Imperial Russian Army officers during

4000-410: The Parliament, but refused to receive the parliamentary seat without a minister's portfolio. Surprisingly, Matti Vanhanen , the new Prime Minister, offered him a position as the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development. As a minister, Väyrynen found himself often in opposition to other members of the cabinet. As a minister, he said that Finland should not have joined the eurozone . In 2008, he labeled

4100-399: The Parliament, they may be individually removed by a motion of no confidence . The government, as a whole, must also have the confidence of the Parliament and must resign on a motion of no confidence. The government has collective ministerial responsibility . Before the Prime Minister is elected, the parliamentary groups (which correspond to their respective political parties ) negotiate on

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4200-518: The Parliament; "I, [name of the MP], affirm that in my office as Speaker I will to the best of my ability defend the rights of the people, Parliament and the government of Finland according to the Constitution." During each annual session of Parliament, Finland's delegations to the Nordic Council and the Council of Europe are assigned. The Parliament also elects five of its members to the bench of

4300-598: The Parliamentary Office, but can be selected and directed by the MP. 1988 Finnish presidential election Mauno Koivisto SDP Mauno Koivisto SDP Presidential elections were held in Finland in 1988. They were the first elections held under a new system. Previously, the public had elected an electoral college that in turn elected the President. For this election, the public directly elected

4400-426: The President on 31 January and 1 February, but also elected an electoral college that would elect the President if no candidate won over 50% of the popular vote. The college was increased in size from 300 to 301 seats to make a tie less likely, though this was still technically possible, as electors could abstain from voting. The contest's outcome, the re-election of Mauno Koivisto , surprised no one, yet he captured

4500-473: The Russia–Georgia War as a "Georgian attack" on "Russian peacekeepers" and ended his article with the statement that Finland should not discuss NATO membership because "it could create the impression that Finland is moving from cooperation to confrontation". In 2010, Väyrynen ran again for the chairmanship of the Centre Party. The veteran politician suffered a heavy loss once again finishing only fourth in

4600-532: The Senate, known as the White Guard , defeated the socialist Red Guard . After the war, monarchists and republicans struggled over the country's form of government. The monarchists seemed to gain a victory when the Parliament elected a German prince as King of Finland in the fall of 1918. This decision was made on the basis of the other Nordic countries also having monarchs. However, the king-elect abdicated

4700-455: The approximate meaning of an 'Assembly of Representatives'. This word is used mostly to refer to Finland's legislature but can also be used as a general term for legislatures in any country. In Swedish , the Parliament's name is riksdag , uncapitalized. This is also the general term for the Swedish legislature . Riksdag derives from the genitive of rike ('realm') referring to

4800-477: The background was of decisive importance in Väyrynen's victory. The "Jalasmökki scandal" 1982 shadowed Väyrynen's career later in media. It occurred when only a few square metres' mobile cabin was found in the address in Keminmaa where Väyrynen officially resided. Väyrynen lived at the same time in Helsinki and used the cabin to get extra compensation from public funds. Later the system of expense compensations for

4900-421: The bill and chooses between the bill proposed by the committee, minority opinions and the eventual other forms the members submit during the discussion. If the parliament wishes to do so, it may during the general discussion of the first handling submit the bill to the Grand Committee for further formulation. The bill is also always treated by the Grand Committee if the parliament decides to adopt any other form than

5000-428: The bill in question. If the committee does not agree, the members in minority may submit their own version of the bill. The committee statement is discussed by the parliament in two consecutive sessions. In the first session, the parliament discusses the bill and prepares its final form. In the first part of handling, a general discussion of the bill is undertaken. After this, the parliament discusses individual points of

5100-424: The ceremonies continue at the Parliament House, where the President formally opens the session. On the first day of each annual session, the Parliament selects a speaker and two deputy speakers from its members. This election is chaired by the oldest MP in office. The three members who are elected to serve as speaker and first deputy speaker and second deputy speaker respectively take the following solemn oath before

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5200-485: The chairmanship election of the Centre Party. However, on 25 April 2018, Väyrynen announced that he would step back from the chairmanship election and subsequently left the Centre Party. On 12 June 2018, Väyrynen left the European Parliament in order to take the MP's seat that he had gained in the 2015 parliamentary elections. He went on to found a new parliamentary group for the Citizens' Party, although his status within

5300-530: The constitution currently in use, the president can do this only upon proposal by the Prime Minister and after consultations with the parliamentary groups while the Parliament is in session. In prior versions of the constitution, the President had the power to do this unilaterally. There is no hard and fast election threshold to get a seat in Parliament. This results in a large number of parties being represented. In 2019, for instance, nine parties won seats, with six winning at least 15 seats. With so many parties and

5400-413: The constitution, amendments must be approved by two successive parliaments, with an election cycle in between, or passed as an emergency law with a 167/200 majority. Most MPs work in parliamentary groups which correspond with the political parties . The Parliament currently comprises nine parliamentary groups. Since the establishment of the Parliament in 1905, the parliamentary majority has been held once by

5500-426: The convention. On 3 March 2018, the Citizens' Party expelled Väyrynen from the party, due to his alleged misdeeds with the campaign funding during the presidential elections and determination to seek the chairmanship of the Centre Party. Väyrynen denied the allegations and instead started a court case against the activities of the board of the Citizens' Party. In April 2018, he left the party willingly to concentrate on

5600-511: The discussion of EU legislation under preparation in the Parliament. The Parliament of Finland has been dissolved before the end of its term fourteen times during its existence. The most recent instance was on 4 June 1975. The Parliament's 200 representatives are elected directly by ballot on the basis of proportional representation. A standard electoral period is four years. Elections have previously taken two days, but as early voting has become more popular, they are now conducted during one day;

5700-584: The election, and as a result Väyrynen was again a presidential candidate. In the summer of 2011, the European sovereign debt crisis became worse and Väyrynen's predictions from 1990s looked surprisingly real. Väyrynen had been polling third or second in opinion polls for the election after Sauli Niinistö . He was also accusing other candidates of hiding their positive attitude of possible Finnish membership in NATO . He has also suggested that Finland ought to readopt

5800-406: The electoral district. Soon after his loss in the 2011 parliamentary election, Väyrynen announced his willingness to participate in the upcoming 2012 presidential election . Väyrynen appeared to be the only one believing in his chances of winning the primary for the Centre Party. Nevertheless, the party, suffering from a heavy loss in 2011 parliament election, saw no one else interested in to run in

5900-531: The fifth time in the 2024 presidential elections . Paavo Väyrynen was born in a farmer family in Kemin maalaiskunta , southwest Lapland . After finishing his gymnasium , he graduated in 1970 as a Bachelor of Social Sciences in the University of Helsinki . In Väyrynen's doctoral thesis in 1988, Finlands utrikespolitik – den nationella doktrinen och framtidens mänsklighetspolitik ("Foreign politics of Finland -

6000-401: The final opinion of the committee. The committee then formulates its own version of the bill and submits this to the parliament which then adopts either its former version or the version of the Grand Committee. The committee statements are influential documents in that they often used by the courts as indicative of the legislator's intent. In the second session, the final formulation of the bill

6100-593: The future outlooks of their respective fields of speciality. The newest committee is the Intelligence Oversight Committee which was created in 2019. Most of the bills discussed in the parliament originate within the Council of State. However, any member or group of members may introduce a bill, but usually these will not pass the committee phase. A third way to propose legislation was introduced in 2012: citizens may deliver an initiative for

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6200-496: The government platform and on the composition of the government. On the basis of the outcome of these negotiations, and after having consulted the Speaker of the house and the parliamentary groups, the President informs the Parliament of the nominee for Prime Minister. The parliament votes on the proposal, and if successful, the nominee is elected Prime Minister. Although Finland essentially always has multi-party coalition governments,

6300-457: The government's position on these changes. As the proceedings of the committees are public, European Union matters handled by the Parliament tend to become public after committee meetings. However, the government may ask the Parliament for a secret handling of an EU matter. This can be the case if the government does not want to reveal its position to foreign nations before the beginning of negotiations. European Union legislation under preparation

6400-404: The ideas of federal Europe. In the 1999 European Parliament election , Väyrynen was again the vote-puller of his party, but this time with only 60,000 votes. In the 2004 European Parliament election , Väyrynen was elected for the third time in row. During his career in the European Parliament, Väyrynen tried to get a comeback to the Finnish politics several times. His first unsuccessful attempt

6500-519: The lack of a threshold, it is nearly impossible for one party to win an outright majority. During the history of the Parliament, only one party has ever won an outright majority–when the Social Democrats won 103 seats in the election of 1916 . Since independence in 1917, no party has ever won the 101 seats needed for a majority. Instead, most Finnish governments have been coalitions formed by three or more parties. Many of them have been grand coalitions between parties with varying ideological backgrounds, as

6600-546: The members of the Parliament of Finland was made more favourable for MPs from distant electoral districts. Just a year before 1983 Finnish parliamentary election the Centre Party merged with the Liberals , but this did not help the party prevent the rise of the populist Finnish Rural Party . Nevertheless, the Centre Party formed a government with the Social Democratic Party of Finland and Väyrynen became

6700-526: The minister in the High Court of Impeachment . The criminal investigation of the Constitutional Committee may also be initiated by the Chancellor of Justice, Parliamentary Ombudsman or by any parliamentary committee. Similar proceedings may also be initiated against the Chancellor of Justice, Parliamentary Ombudsman or the judges of the supreme courts. The President of Finland may be also the target of

6800-537: The most influential Finnish politicians in 1980 when he was elected as the Chairman of Finnish Centre Party. The Väyrynen victory in 1980 party congress was remarkable also because his main opponent was a well known ex-Prime Minister of Finland Johannes Virolainen . The vote was tight; 1737 delegates of the Party Congress voted for Väyrynen and 1611 delegates supported Virolainen. President Kekkonen's support in

6900-424: The national doctrine and the politics of the future of mankind"), he made an assumption that the Soviet Union would prevail — an assumption which has haunted him in the media ever since. In 1996, Väyrynen was granted docentship of International Relations in University of Lapland . Väyrynen skyrocketed to the top of Finnish politics in his early years. He was elected to the Finnish Parliament in 1970 elections . He

7000-470: The needed 20,000 signatures from his supporters in time. At the same time, Väyrynen announced that he had left the chairmanship of the Citizens' Party. On 5 December, Väyrynen announced that he had gathered the needed signatures and his candidacy was soon confirmed by the Ministry of Justice. In the election, Väyrynen placed fourth with 6.2% of the votes, while Niinistö went on to secure his second term with

7100-459: The negotiations with the EU were a disappointment to Väyrynen. When the result of the negotiation was ready, Väyrynen declared that he would oppose Finnish EU membership. With the new chairman of the party supporting EU membership, Väyrynen decided to resign as a Minister. He challenged the new political line of the party by announcing his candidacy to the 1994 presidential election . He beat his main opponents Keijo Korhonen and Eeva Kuuskoski in

7200-403: The norm. At the same time, the ability of qualified minorities to block legislation was gradually removed and the powers of the Parliament were greatly increased in the constitutional reform of 1991. The revised 2000 draft of the Finnish constitution removed almost all domestic powers of the President, strengthening the position of the cabinet and the Parliament. It also included the methods for

7300-399: The ordinary voters had not forgotten Väyrynen. He participated in Finnish parliamentary election in 2003 and promised not to return to the European Parliament. In 2004, Väyrynen, tired of the lack of support by the Finnish political elite, was re-elected to the European Parliament. In 2007, Väyrynen finally returned to the Finnish Parliament. In the election , he was elected from Lapland to

7400-432: The parliament may either accept the report or pass a motion of censure. A passed motion of censure will cause the government to fall. Any group of 10 members may raise the question of the legality of the minister's official acts. If such question is raised, the Constitutional Committee will investigate the matter, using all the powers of police. After the final report of the committee, the parliament decides whether to charge

7500-417: The parliament's consideration, if the initiative gains 50,000 endorsements from eligible voters within a period of six months. When delivered to the parliament, the initiative is dealt with in the same way as any other bill. Any bill introduced will initially be discussed by the members of the Parliament, prior to being sent to the committee to which it belongs. If the bill concerns several areas of legislation,

7600-790: The party group and form their own. As of September 2019 there are nine groups, one of which is a one-man group. A group generally tries to reach a unanimous decision on a common position, but failing to do so may take a vote. This position then defines voting in the parliamentary session proper according to party discipline . Exceptions to this principle are made on matters on which no party line or government policy exists. Parliamentary groups make their decisions independently of their party leadership, and group leaders of major parties accordingly rank alongside government ministers and party leaders as influential political leaders. Each parliamentary group receives funding for its operations and may have staff of its own. The President of Finland consults

7700-407: The party was still unclear due to the ongoing court case. On 28 June 2018, Väyrynen announced that, due to the disagreements with the Citizens' Party, he had founded a new political movement called Seven Star Movement . Later, Väyrynen formally changed the affiliation of his parliamentary group from Citizens' Party to the Seven Star Movement. Väyrynen took part in the 2019 parliamentary election as

7800-568: The presidential election of 1994. Neither had any hope of defeating the ever-popular Koivisto in 1988, and it was widely assumed that he would not seek re-election again in 1994. Väyrynen was seen as the winner of this race for position, in that he had come from far behind in the polls, had easily beaten Koivisto in the northern provinces, had found good support elsewhere—except in the Helsinki area, and had cemented his leadership role in his own party. His strong party base and his ability to attract conservatives dissatisfied with their party's alliance with

7900-413: The presidential elections, Väyrynen's Centre Party was successful in Finnish municipality elections and gained 21.1% of the votes. In 1990, Väyrynen decided to resign after being the party chairman for ten years. Esko Aho was elected as a successor of Väyrynen. He led the Centre Party into a historic victory with 24.83% of the votes. Väyrynen received more votes than any other candidate in the country and

8000-466: The process is made smoother by party discipline : coalition MPs vote together to ensure a majority. The annual session of parliament generally begins in February and consists of two terms, the first from January to June, the second from September to December. At the start of an annual session, the nation's political leaders and their guests attend a special worship service at Helsinki Cathedral before

8100-406: The project of the ex-Minister of Education. In the same area, Väyrynen has also opened Pohjanranta farm, which hosts a youth home, a dance hall, a vineyard, a hostel and a church. Parliament of Finland Opposition (91) The Parliament of Finland ( Finnish : Suomen eduskunta [ˈsuo̯men ˈeduskuntɑ] ; Swedish : Finlands riksdag [ˈfinlɑnds ˈriksdɑː(ɡ)] )

8200-551: The proposal. However, in matters concerning the external relations of the European Union , the Finnish stance is formulated by the Committee for Foreign and Security Policy, rather than the Grand Committee. The Finnish government is obligated by law to follow the parliamentary opinion when discussing the matter with the European Commission and other member states. The government may change the Finnish stance, but it

8300-494: The right to ask the government written questions. The questions are answered in writing within 21 days by a minister responsible for the matter and do not cause any further discussion. Furthermore, the parliament has a questioning session from time to time. In these, the members are allowed to ask short verbal questions, which are answered by the responsible ministers and then discussed by the parliament. Any group of twenty members may interpellate . The motion of censure may be for

8400-531: The second period of " Russification ". The Parliament was dissolved and new elections were held almost every year. The Finnish Parliament received the true political power for the first time after the February Revolution (First Revolution) of 1917 in Russia . Finland declared its full independence on 6 December 1917, and in the winter and spring of 1918 endured a civil war in which the forces of

8500-809: The socialist and non-socialist blocs usually do not win enough seats between them to govern on their own. The seats for each electoral district are assigned according to the D'Hondt method . Electoral districts were originally based on the historical lääni division of 1634, but there have been several subsequent changes. Although there is no set election threshold, many electoral districts have become smaller in terms of population in recent decades, and some now elect as few as six representatives. This makes it harder for small parties to win MPs in these districts. MPs work in parliamentary groups ( eduskuntaryhmä ). The parliamentary groups generally correspond to political parties, although occasionally dissidents can be removed from

8600-437: The socialists, combined with his extensive ministerial experience, made the relatively young Väyrynen Finland's foremost opposition politician. His strong finish, and the lack of any SDP politician of Koivisto's personal stature and popularity, guaranteed the Centre Party's continued significance in the country's political life even when in opposition, and were perhaps signs that the dominance of postindustrial southern Finland over

8700-499: The third Sunday of April of an election year. Every Finnish citizen who is at least 18 years of age on the election date is entitled to vote in general elections. There is normally no need to register as a voter, and citizens receive an invitation by mail. With certain exceptions, such as military personnel on active duty, high judicial officials, the President of the Republic, and persons under guardianship, any voter may also stand as

8800-468: The throne after Imperial Germany was defeated in World War ;I, on 11 November 1918. In the parliamentary election of 1919 , the republican parties won three-quarters of the seats, extinguishing the monarchists' ambitions. Finland became a republic with a parliamentary system, but in order to appease the monarchist parties, which favoured a strong head of state, extensive powers were granted to

8900-719: The vote respectively, and Kalevi Kivistö , the candidate of voters linked to the Finnish People's Democratic League (SKDL) and the Greens , who got 10.4 percent. The strong finish of Väyrynen and Kivistö was regarded by some as a vote against the KOK-SDP coalition formed after the March 1987 parliamentary election. The campaign did not center, to any significant degree, on issues, but on the candidates themselves; Väyrynen and Holkeri both clearly wanted to position themselves well for

9000-458: The vote. Väyrynen again blamed a "media game" for his loss. Many Finns believed that Väyrynen's career was over when he lost his seat as a member of Finnish parliament in the 2011 election . Väyrynen had changed from his stronghold electoral district of Lapland to the Uusimaa electoral district. Later, he accused Timo Laaninen , the secretary general of the Centre Party, for luring him to change

9100-550: The votes of 45 of the 63 electors pledged to the National Coalition Party (KOK) candidate, Prime Minister Harri Holkeri , were added to those of the 144 electors he had won on his own. Koivisto's inability to win the presidency directly was caused by an upsurge of support in the final weeks of the campaign for his stronger rivals, Centre Party 's Paavo Väyrynen and the KOK's Holkeri—who got 20.1 and 18.1 percent of

9200-407: The whole government or any particular minister. The motion takes the form of a question that is replied to by the responsible minister. If the parliament decides to approve the motion of censure, the committee responsible for the matter in question formulates the motion, which is then passed by the parliament. The government may decide to make a report to the parliament in any matter. After discussion

9300-722: Was chosen–for the fourth time during his political career–as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Paavo Väyrynen was critical to the active support given by the Danish Uffe Ellemann-Jensen and the Icelandic Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson to the Baltic states in their fight to regain independence. In 1992, however, Paavo Väyrynen together with nine other Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the Baltic Sea area and an EU commissioner founded

9400-417: Was eliminated from the second round of the election, placing third on the first round behind Juha Sipilä and Tuomo Puumala . In 2014 European Parliament election Väyrynen was elected again to the European Parliament with 69,360 votes. He also participated the Finnish parliamentary election in 2015, and was elected with 6,889 votes. After the election, Väyrynen announced that he would continue his work in

9500-539: Was immediately chosen to work as a Secretary of Ahti Karjalainen 's cabinet. The 25-year-old Väyrynen was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Finnish Centre Party in 1972, and only three years later he began his long ministerial career as the Minister of Education. The new rising star managed to capture the attention of President Kekkonen . He soon became one of Kekkonen's trustees and a fierce defender of his foreign policies. Paavo Väyrynen became one of

9600-480: Was in September 1999 when Väyrynen lost the primary election for President against Esko Aho. His second attempt in 2002 ended in a painful defeat. Väyrynen was a candidate for the Centre Party chairmanship, but received only 100 votes out of a few thousand delegates in the party congress. He had not lost only the support of the party leadership, but also the support of ordinary Centre Party members. Nevertheless,

9700-660: Was no longer able to affect the decision making within the party and criticized the Sipilä cabinet for its liberal politics. Soon after, Väyrynen announced that he was founding a new party called the Citizens' Party (Kansalaispuolue) and would represent it for rest of his term in the European Parliament. The party managed to gather enough signatures from supporters and was thus qualified as a registered party in December 2016. In 2017, Keminmaa Centre party's branch announced that Väyrynen

9800-403: Was now the main opposition figure in Finnish politics. In 1988 Finnish presidential election , Väyrynen was an obvious choice to be the presidential candidate of the main opposition party. On the first round, he received 20.6% of the votes and challenged the incumbent President Koivisto. Nevertheless, the National Coalition candidate supported Koivisto, who was elected to his second term. After

9900-466: Was resigned from the party as he had founded new political party Väyrynen ran for the City Council of Helsinki during the 2017 municipal elections as an independent on the party list of the Christian Democrats . He gained 1,026 votes and was elected. On 15 July 2017, Väyrynen announced that he planned to run as an independent candidate in the 2018 presidential election if he managed to gather

10000-456: Was the second most popular candidate in early voting. On the official election day, Väyrynen received much less support and he claimed that the media had manipulated the opinion polls to convince voters to believe that Väyrynen had no chance to advance to the second round. According to Väyrynen, there was a "media game" against him. Later the phrase ("media game", mediapeli in Finnish) became

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