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Election Profile:

Flag of Finland
  • Country: Finland
  • Official Name: Republic of Finland
  • Election Type: Presidential
  • First Round: January 15, 2006
    Second Round: January 29, 2006
Source for election date

At stake in this election:

  • The office of President of Finland

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: President Tarja HALONEN
  • Head of Government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN
  • Assembly: Finland has a unicameral Parliament (Eduskunta) with 200 seats.

Description of electoral system:

  • The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 6-year term.
  • The Prime Minister is appointed by the president with the approval of the parliament.
  • In the Parliament (Eduskunta) 200 members are elected by open list proportional representation in multi-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms.***

Main Candidates in the Second Round of the Presidential race:

  • Tarja HALONEN
    Party: Social Democratic Party
  • Sauli NIINISTÖ
    Party: National Coalition Party

Main Candidates in the First Round of the Presidential race:

  • Tarja HALONEN
    Party: Social Democratic Party
  • Sauli NIINISTÖ
    Party: National Coalition Party
  • Matti VANHANEN
    Party: Centre Party
  • Heidi HAUTALA
    Party: Green League
  • Timo SOINI
    Party: True Finns
  • Bjarne KALLIS
    Party: Christian Democrats
  • Henrik LAX
    Party: Swedish People's Party
  • Arto LAHTI
    Party: Independent

Last Presidential election:

  • The last presidential election was held on January 16, 2000 and February 6, 2000. Tarja HALONEN (SDP) was elected president with 51.6% of the vote against Esko AHO (Kesk) with 48.4%.

Population and number of registered voters:

  • Population: 5,223,442 (July 2005 est)
  • Registered Voters: 4,272,537 (January 2006 )

Last Updated on 07/24/2010

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