Political system
Finland is a parliamentary democracy with a multiparty political system and a president as the head of state. Finland declared itself independent of the Russian Empire on 6 December 1917. Since independence, Finland has lived with her Western democracy intact, through the Second World War and the Cold War, and has become a member of the European Union.Finland’s political system
Power in Finland is vested in the people, who are represented by the parliament.
The public is following parliament’s plenary session from the gallery.All parliament’s plenary sessions are open to the public. Photo: Lehtikuva/Vesa Moilanen/Parliament.
At the local level, Finland is divided into municipalities which elect local councils. Every citizen who has reached the age of 18 by Election Day has a right to vote and to stand for election. Everyone who is entitled to vote is automatically entered in the electoral register.