Finnish parliamentary election, 1919
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Finland
between 1 and 3 March 1919. The Social Democratic Pary
emerged as the largest in Parliament with 80 of the 200 seats. Voter turnout was 67.1%.
. Many Whites
(right-wingers and centrists) felt that a strong national government was necessary to prevent a new civil war. Some conservatives, especially monarchists, even doubted whether Finland should keep its democratic and universal right to vote (for example Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
had such doubts: in the White Army's victory parade in Helsinki
in May 1918, he called for the giving of Finland's leadership to a strong leader, free from partisan wrangling). Liberals, such as the first President Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg
, believed that discontent with Finland's political, social and economic order would be removed by making reforms. Monarchists had elected Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse
(a state of Germany
) as the Finnish King in October 1918, but he had renounced the throne in December 1918, conscious of the problems that Finland would have in its relations with the nited Kingdom] and the United States
if it had a citizen of the defeated Germany as its King. The parties that favoured a republic - Social Democrats, Agrarians
and Progressives
- disagreed on how much power the head of state (President) should have. The monarchist parties - National Coalitioners and Swedish People's Party - favoured a strong Presidency. In the end, enough Finnish voters sided with the pro-republic parties that also promised significant social reforms, such as the freeing of tenant farmers and the distribution of excess farmland to them.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
between 1 and 3 March 1919. The Social Democratic Pary
Social Democratic Party of Finland
The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
emerged as the largest in Parliament with 80 of the 200 seats. Voter turnout was 67.1%.
Background
In 1919, Finland was still reeling from the violent and traumatic effects of its Civil WarFinnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War was a part of the national, political and social turmoil caused by World War I in Europe. The Civil War concerned control and leadership of The Grand Duchy of Finland as it achieved independence from Russia after the October Revolution in Petrograd...
. Many Whites
Whites (Finland)
The Whites is the name used to the refugee government and forces under Pehr Evind Svinhufvud's first senate during the Finnish civil war. The forces were initially formed by the paramilitary White Guard and other recruitees and draftees...
(right-wingers and centrists) felt that a strong national government was necessary to prevent a new civil war. Some conservatives, especially monarchists, even doubted whether Finland should keep its democratic and universal right to vote (for example Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War, Commander-in-Chief of Finland's Defence Forces during World War II, Marshal of Finland, and a Finnish statesman. He was Regent of Finland and the sixth President of Finland...
had such doubts: in the White Army's victory parade in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
in May 1918, he called for the giving of Finland's leadership to a strong leader, free from partisan wrangling). Liberals, such as the first President Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg
Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg
Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg was a Finnish jurist and academic, who played a central role in the drafting of the Constitution of Finland in 1919. He was the first President of Finland and a nationalist liberal.-Early life:...
, believed that discontent with Finland's political, social and economic order would be removed by making reforms. Monarchists had elected Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse
Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse
Frederick Charles Louis Constantine, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse , Friedrich Karl Ludwig Konstantin Prinz und Landgraf von Hessen-Kassel in German, was the brother-in-law of the German Emperor William II and the elected King of Finland from 9 October to 14 December 1918.-Early life:Frederick was...
(a state of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) as the Finnish King in October 1918, but he had renounced the throne in December 1918, conscious of the problems that Finland would have in its relations with the nited Kingdom] and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
if it had a citizen of the defeated Germany as its King. The parties that favoured a republic - Social Democrats, Agrarians
Centre Party (Finland)
The Centre Party is a centrist and Nordic agrarian political party in Finland. It is one of the four largest political parties in the country, along with the Social Democratic Party , the National Coalition Party and the True Finns , and currently has 35 seats in the Finnish Parliament...
and Progressives
National Progressive Party (Finland)
The National Progressive Party was a liberal political party in Finland from 1918 to 1951. The party was founded December 8 1918, after the Finnish Civil War, by the republican majority of the Young Finnish Party and the republican minority of the Finnish Party...
- disagreed on how much power the head of state (President) should have. The monarchist parties - National Coalitioners and Swedish People's Party - favoured a strong Presidency. In the end, enough Finnish voters sided with the pro-republic parties that also promised significant social reforms, such as the freeing of tenant farmers and the distribution of excess farmland to them.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many... |
356,046 | 38.0 | 80 | –12 |
| Agrarian League Centre Party (Finland) The Centre Party is a centrist and Nordic agrarian political party in Finland. It is one of the four largest political parties in the country, along with the Social Democratic Party , the National Coalition Party and the True Finns , and currently has 35 seats in the Finnish Parliament... |
189,297 | 19.7 | 42 | |
| National Coalition Party | 151,018 | 15.7 | 28 | New |
| National Progressive Party National Progressive Party (Finland) The National Progressive Party was a liberal political party in Finland from 1918 to 1951. The party was founded December 8 1918, after the Finnish Civil War, by the republican majority of the Young Finnish Party and the republican minority of the Finnish Party... |
123,090 | 12.8 | 26 | New |
| Swedish People's Party | 116,582 | 12.1 | 22 | |
| Christian Workers' Union Christian Workers' Union The Christian Workers' Union is a trade union in Belize. It was founded in 1963. As of 2006, CWU claimed a membership of 2,500. It was a member of the International Trade Union Confederation, but withdrew in November 2009.... |
14,718 | 1.5 | 2 | |
| Others | 1,350 | 0.1 | 0 | – |
| Invalid/blank votes | 4,771 | – | – | – |
| Total | 965,872 | 100 | 200 | 0 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | ||||