Finland - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Finland, it was name may derive from the ancient Fenni peoples who are first described as living in northeastern Europe in the first centuries A.D.. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 19 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen, singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa (Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish) [South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish) [South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish); Kainuu (Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi (Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland]; Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish), Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland (Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere]; Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Osterbotten (Swedish) [Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia]; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish) [North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish), Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland]
National symbols

Lion; national colors: blue, white.

The flag
The National flag of Finland has white with a blue cross extending 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); the blue represents the thousands of lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow that covers the land in winter.
The National Anthem
Title "Maamme" (Our Land)
Lyric/music Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS
More about the government of Finland
Date of Independence 6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Legal system civil law system based on the Swedish model
International law organization participation accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Constitution
History Previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000
Amendments Proposed by Parliament; passage normally requires simple majority vote in two readings in the first parliamentary session and at least two-thirds majority vote in a single reading by the newly elected Parliament; proposals declared "urgent" by five-sixths of Parliament members can be passed by at least two-thirds majority vote in the first parliamentary session only; amended several times, last in 2018
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth no
Citizenship by descent only at least one parent must be a citizen of Finland
Dual citizenship recognized yes
Residency requirement for naturalization 6 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state President Alexander STUBB (since 1 March 2024)
Head of government Prime Minister Petteri ORPO (since 20 June 2023)
Cabinet Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
Elections/appointments president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); first round held on 28 January 2024 with a runoff on 11 February 2024 (next to be held by 28 January 2030); prime minister appointed by Parliament
Election results
2024: 
Alexander STUBB elected in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Alexander STUBB (KoK) 27.2%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 25.8%, Jussi HALLA-AHO (PS) 19.0%, Olli REHN (Kesk) 15.3%; percent of vote in second round - STUBB 51.6%, HAAVISTO 48.4%

2018: 
Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote - Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7%
Legislative branch
Description Unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; 199 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member in the province of Aland directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections Last held on 2 April 2023 (next to be held on 30 April 2027)
Election results Percent of vote by party/coalition - Kok 24%, PS 23%, SDP 21.5%. Center Party 11.5%, Vihr 6.5%, Vas 5.5%, SFP 4.5%, KD 2.5%, Aland 0.5%; Movement Now 0.5%; seats by party/coalition - Kok 48, PS 46, SDP 43, Center Party 23, Vihr 13, Vas 11, SFP 9, KD 5; Aland 1; Movement Now 1; composition - men 108, women 92, percentage women 46%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s) Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (consists of the court president and 18 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 21 judges, including the court president and organized into 3 chambers); note - Finland has a dual judicial system - courts with civil and criminal jurisdiction and administrative courts with jurisdiction for litigation between individuals and administrative organs of the state and communities
Judge selection and term of office Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court judges appointed by the president of the republic; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 68
Subordinate courts 6 Courts of Appeal; 8 regional administrative courts; 27 district courts; special courts for issues relating to markets, labor, insurance, impeachment, land, tenancy, and water rights
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Leena-Kaisa MIKKOLA (since 18 September 2024)
Chancery 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX [1] (202) 298-6030
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission
Consulate(s) general Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Douglas HICKEY (since 11 May 2022)
Embassy Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki
Mailing address 5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC  20521-5310
Telephone [358] (9) 616-250
FAX [358] (9) 174-681
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://fi.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales Fortress of Suomenlinna (c); Old Rauma (c); Petäjävesi Old Church (c); Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c); Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki (c); High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c)
Key Political parties and their leaders in Finland
  • International organization participation
  • ADB (nonregional member)
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  • All Important Facts about Finland

    Want to know more about Finland? Check all different factbooks for Finland below.

    Finland is found in Northern Europe