Åland Representation in the Parliament of Finland
Encyclopedia
Though Åland, an autonomous region of Finland
, has its own parliament
, it also elects a representative to the Finnish parliament
. Åland became its own Finnish electoral district
(see Elections in Finland
) in 1948. Åland had previously been a part of the same electoral district as Varsinais-Suomi
. Of the fifteen Finnish electoral districts, Åland is the smallest with its single representative. Unlike the other districts, however, whose number of representatives are calculated for each parliamentary election based on the size of the population within the district, Åland always receives exactly one representative, regardless of the size of the population. Åland's electoral district also differs from the others in that it is the only one defined in the Finnish constitution
; the others may be defined in legislation. The district is also defined in the Autonomy Act of Åland. The election for the Finnish parliament functions otherwise in the same manner as in the rest of Finland.
The mainland Finnish political parties are not present on Åland, and the Åland representative is instead elected from one of the political parties of Åland, who may form electoral alliances specifically for the Finnish parliamentary election.
The Åland representative typically caucus
es with the Swedish People's Party in the Finnish parliament, though not necessarily; the candidates of the Åland Social Democrats
often pledges to caucus with their Finnish counterparts
.
As one would expect, the Åland representative typically engages in issues that affect Åland, for example in regard to the Åland autonomy and the Swedish language
in Finland.
During other elections, such as presidential elections or elections for the European Parliament
, the entire country of Finland, including Åland, forms a single electoral district.
), with one key difference: if a replacement is not available, a new election for the seat must be held as soon as possible.
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...
, has its own parliament
Parliament of Åland
The Lagting, or Lagtinget, is the parliament of Åland, an autonomous, demilitarised and unilingually Swedish-speaking territory of Finland. The Lagting has 30 seats.- Elections :- See also :*Government of Åland, or Ålands landskapsregering...
, it also elects a representative to the Finnish parliament
Parliament of Finland
The Eduskunta , is the parliament of Finland. The unicameral parliament has 200 members and meets in the Parliament House in Helsinki. The latest election to the parliament took place on April 17, 2011.- Constitution :...
. Åland became its own Finnish electoral district
Åland (constituency)
Åland is an electoral district represented in the Finnish Eduskunta . It covers the autonomous administrative region of Åland, with a population of 26,711 . It is the smallest constituency in Finland, and the only one that only elects one member of parliament...
(see Elections in Finland
Elections in Finland
Elections in Finland gives information on election and election results in Finland.On national level Finland elects a head of state — the President of the Republic — and a legislature. The president is elected for a six-year term by direct popular vote...
) in 1948. Åland had previously been a part of the same electoral district as Varsinais-Suomi
Varsinais-Suomi
Varsinais-Suomi is the name of a geographical region in Finland which can refer to:*Varsinais-Suomi - a historical Province of Sweden...
. Of the fifteen Finnish electoral districts, Åland is the smallest with its single representative. Unlike the other districts, however, whose number of representatives are calculated for each parliamentary election based on the size of the population within the district, Åland always receives exactly one representative, regardless of the size of the population. Åland's electoral district also differs from the others in that it is the only one defined in the Finnish constitution
Constitution of Finland
The Constitution of Finland is the supreme source of national law of Finland. It defines the basis, structures and organisation of government, the relationship between the different constitutional organs, and lays out the fundamental rights of Finnish citizens...
; the others may be defined in legislation. The district is also defined in the Autonomy Act of Åland. The election for the Finnish parliament functions otherwise in the same manner as in the rest of Finland.
The mainland Finnish political parties are not present on Åland, and the Åland representative is instead elected from one of the political parties of Åland, who may form electoral alliances specifically for the Finnish parliamentary election.
The Åland representative typically caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
es with the Swedish People's Party in the Finnish parliament, though not necessarily; the candidates of the Åland Social Democrats
Åland Social Democrats
The Åland Social Democrats is a social democratic political party in the Åland Islands. In the 21 October 2007 parliamentary elections, the party won only 11.5 % of the popular vote and 3 out of 30 seats, a loss of three....
often pledges to caucus with their Finnish counterparts
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...
.
As one would expect, the Åland representative typically engages in issues that affect Åland, for example in regard to the Åland autonomy and the Swedish language
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
in Finland.
During other elections, such as presidential elections or elections for the European Parliament
Elections in the European Union
Elections to the Parliament of the European Union take place every five years by universal adult suffrage. 736 MEPs are elected to the European Parliament which has been directly elected since 1979. No other body is directly elected although the Council of the European Union and European Council is...
, the entire country of Finland, including Åland, forms a single electoral district.
Replacement election
In the event the Åland seat in the Finnish parliament becomes vacant, a replacement is chosen as in other electoral districts (using the d'Hondt methodD'Hondt method
The d'Hondt method is a highest averages method for allocating seats in party-list proportional representation. The method described is named after Belgian mathematician Victor D'Hondt who described it in 1878...
), with one key difference: if a replacement is not available, a new election for the seat must be held as soon as possible.
Åland representatives
| Arthur Larson | 1897–1959 | 1948–1959 |
| Elis Andersson | 1904–1983 | 1959–1966 |
| Evald Häggblom | 1905–1976 | 1966–1976 |
| Gunnar Häggblom | 1917 - | 1976–1983 |
| Gunnar Jansson Gunnar Jansson Gunnar Jansson was a Swedish football forward who played for Sweden in the 1934 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Gefle IF.-External links:*... |
1944 - | 1983–2003 |
| Roger Jansson Roger Jansson Roger Jansson is a politician in the Åland Islands, an autonomous and unilingually Swedish territory of Finland. He has studied in Åbo Akademi.* Member of Ålands lagting 2007-... |
1943 - | 2003–2007 |
| Elisabeth Nauclér Elisabeth Nauclér Elisabeth Nauclér is a Swedish-born Finnish independent politician and jurist and the single member of parliament for autonomous Åland in the Parliament of Finland. She sits with the mainland's Swedish People's Party in the parliament... |
1952 - | 2007 - |