1966 Finnish parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Finland on 20 and 21 March 1966.[1] The Social Democratic Party (SDP) overtook the Centre Party as the largest faction in Parliament. Rafael Paasio of the SDP subsequently became Prime Minister and formed a popular front government consisting of the SDP, the Centre Party, the People's Democratic League (SKDL), and the Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders (TPSL) in May 1966.[2][3]

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Background

Prior to the elections, Centre Party Prime Minister Johannes Virolainen had led a centre-right coalition government since September 1964. Meanwhile, Paasio had moved the SDP further to the left in order to attract back voters from the TPSL. Finnish society was undergoing a period of radical criticism of traditional values, such as Christianity, marriage, parents' authority over their children, teachers' authority over their students, patriotism, and civil servants' (including judges') authority over private citizens. The Social Democrats and the SKDL tapped into this discontent at the expense of the centre-right coalition. At the same time, leading Social Democrats, such as former Minister of Social Affairs and Minister of the Interior Väinö Leskinen, had promised to support President Kekkonen's foreign policy with regards to the Soviet Union, and his continuance as President.

Results

Overall, the leftist coalition achieved a combined majority (51.0%) of the votes cast in the election.

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Social Democratic Party645,33927.255+17
Centre Party503,04721.249–4
Finnish People's Democratic League502,37421.141–6
National Coalition Party326,92813.826–6
Liberal People's Party153,2596.59–5
Swedish People's Party134,8325.711–2
Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders61,2742.67+5
Smallholders' Party24,3511.01+1
Finnish Christian League10,6460.40New
Åland Coalition7,1180.310
Independence Party5130.00New
Christian Women of Western Finland1240.00New
Christian-minded of Northern Savonia300.00New
Others510.00–
Write-in lists1610.00–
Invalid/blank votes8,537–––
Total2,378,5831002000
Registered voters/turnout2,800,46184.9––
Source: Tilastokeskus 2004[4]
Popular vote
SDP
 
 27.23%
KESK
 
 21.23%
SKDL
 
 21.20%
KOK
 
 13.79%
LKP
 
 6.47%
RKP
 
 5.69%
TPSL
 
 2.59%
SPP
 
 1.03%
Others
 
 0.79%

Seats in parliament
Parliament seats
SDP
 
 27.50%
KESK
 
 24.50%
SKDL
 
 20.50%
KOK
 
 13.00%
RKP
 
 5.50%
LKP
 
 4.50%
TPSL
 
 3.50%
SPP
 
 0.50%
Others
 
 0.50%

References
  1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p606 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. Seppo Zetterberg et al (2003) A Small Giant of the Finnish History, WSOY
  3. Allan Tiitta and Seppo Zetterberg (1992) Finland Through the Ages, Reader's Digest
  4. 595. Eduskuntavaalit 1927–2003 (Tilastokeskus 2004)
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