1919 Finnish parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Finland between 1 and 3 March 1919.[1] The Social Democratic Party emerged as the largest in Parliament with 80 of the 200 seats. Voter turnout was 67.1%.[2]

Background

In 1919, Finland was still reeling from the violent and traumatic effects of its Civil War. Many Whites (rightists and centrists) felt that a strong national government was necessary to prevent a new civil war. Some conservatives, especially monarchists, even wondered if Finland should keep its democratic and universal right to vote (for example Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, 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 United 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 if there was going to be a republic at all.

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.[3][4][5]

Results

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Social Democratic Party365,04638.080–12
Agrarian League189,29719.742+16
National Coalition Party151,01815.728New
National Progressive Party123,09012.826New
Swedish People's Party116,58212.122+1
Christian Workers' Union14,7181.52+2
Others1,3500.10
Total961,1011002000
Valid votes961,10199.51
Invalid/blank votes4,7710.49
Total votes cast965,872100
Registered voters/turnout1,438,70967.13
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Popular vote
SDP
37.98%
ML
19.70%
KOK
15.71%
ED
12.81%
RKP
12.13%
KTL
1.53%
Others
0.14%
Parliament seats
SDP
40.00%
ML
21.00%
KOK
14.00%
ED
13.00%
RKP
11.00%
KTL
1.00%

See also

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p606 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p613
  3. Seppo Zetterberg et al., eds., A Small Giant of Finnish History, Helsinki: WSOY, 2003, pages 610-612
  4. Pentti Virrankoski, A History of Finland 1&2, Helsinki: Finnish Literary Society, 2009, pages 756-758, 766-767
  5. Jonathan Clements, Mannerheim: President, Soldier, Spy, London, UK: Haus Publishing Ltd, 2009
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