Simple directory > Regional > Finland

Official name: Suomen Tasavalta: Republiken Finland (Republic of Finland) Head of State: President Tarja Halonen (SDP) (since 2000) Head of government: Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (appointed 24 Jun 2003) Ruling party: Three-party coalition from 15 Apr 2003: Suomen Keskusta (KESK) (Centre Party of Finland); Suomen Sosialidemokraatinen Puolue (SDP) (Social Democratic Party of Finland); Svenska Folkpartiet i Finland/Ruotsalainen Kansanpuolue (SFP/RKP) (Swedish People's Party) Area: 338,144 square km Population: 5.22 million (2004) Capital: Helsinki Official language: Finnish and Swedish Currency: Euro (eur) = 100 cents (from 1 Jan 2002; previous currency markka, locked at M5.95 per euro) Exchange rate: eur0.77 per US$ (Nov 2004) GDP per capita: US$31,773 (2003) GDP real growth: 1.00% (2003) Labour force: 2.63 million (2003) Unemployment: 9.20% (2003) Inflation: 1.30% (2003) Balance of trade: US$11.52 billion (2003) Foreign debt: US$30.00 billion (2003)

 

Historical profile
Before independence in 1917, Finland was controlled by Sweden and later Russia. Prior to Sweden's conquest of Finland in the 1150s, the country had been a feudal and tribal society.

1150–1293 Sweden was in control of Finland.

1362 Finland was granted the full rights of a Swedish province.

1523 Treaty gave Russia part of Karelia (area between Finland and Russia).

1721 Russia took control of the whole of Karelia.

1809 Finland was conquered by Russia.

1905–06 Strikes were held by the population demanding rights and liberties. Parliamentary government and universal suffrage were established; in 1906, Finland became the first European country to give votes to women.

1917 Collapse of the Russian Empire. A Finnish declaration of independence was followed by a brief civil war.

1919 Establishment of a republic; Kaarlo Ståhlberg became Finland's first president. In the following 70 years, more than 60 governments, mainly minority coalitions, held power.

1939–41 The Soviet Union invaded Finland and after the bitter conflict of the 1939–40 'Winter War', Finland entered the Second World War on the side of Nazi Germany. In December 1940, German troops were invited by the Finnish government to occupy parts of the country and Finland joined Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

1944 Finland signed a peace treaty with the Soviet Union and its troops withdrew from Soviet territory. Finnish troops were then engaged in the 'Lapland War' in northern Finland against withdrawing German soldiers.

1945 Following the end of the Second World War, punitive reparations and the cession of Southern Karelia and its only Arctic port, Petsamo, were forced on Finland by the Soviet Union.

1948 The Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance was signed by Finland and the Soviet Union. It lasted until 1992 after the Soviet Union's break-up.

1956–82 The powers of the strong executive presidency allowed for in the constitution were further enhanced by President Urho Kekkonen. He was succeeded by President Mauno Koivisto in 1982.

1987 The Suomen Keskusta (KESK) (Centre Party of Finland) was replaced after 50 years in government. Conservatives were in the coalition government for the first time in 21 years. Harri Holkeri was appointed Finland's first conservative prime minister since 1946.

1994 Martii Ahtisaari was elected as president. The Suomen Kristillinen Liitto (SKL) (Christian League of Finland), which opposed EU membership, withdrew from the coalition after Finland completed negotiations on joining the EU.

1995 Finland joined the EU. The Suomen Sosialidemokraatinen Puolue (SDP) (Social Democratic Party) won the parliamentary elections and formed a coalition government, with the SDP's Paavo Lipponen as prime minister.

1999 The SDP was again returned as the strongest party in the parliamentary elections; a five-party government coalition was formed. Paavo Lipponen was re-elected as prime minister.

2000 Tarja Halonen was elected as president – Finland's first female president. The powers of the president were reduced, following the introduction of a new constitution.

2001 Finland joined other EU states to support the US's military action in Afghanistan, following the 11 September terrorist attacks.

2002 The Vitireä Liitto (VIHR) (Green League) left the coalition government after parliament voted to proceed with plans to build Finland's fifth nuclear reactor.

2003 Anneli Jäätteenmäki became Finland's first female prime minister, heading a coalition of her own KESK, which won the March parliamentary elections, the SDP and the SFP/RKP. Jäätteenmäki resigned as prime minister in June and parliament elected the defence minister, Matti Vanhanen, as prime minister.

2004 In March, former prime minister Anneli Jaatteenmaki was acquitted of charges of illegally obtaining secret documents about the Iraq War while she was opposition leader.

 

There's no web links here.