Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/882

 830 FINLAND.

(Suomen Tasavalta.)

Finland is a Republic according to the Constitutional Law of June 14, 1919.

From 1809 Finland was united to the Russian Empire as an autonomous Grand-Duchy. On December 6, 1917, the House of Representatives unani- mously proclaimed Finland an independent and sovereign State, and she has been recognised as such by the Powers. According to the Constitutional Law of 1906, the House of Representatives consists of one Chamber of 200 members chosen by direct and proportional election, in which all who are entitled to vote have an equal vote. The suffrage is possessed, with Ihe usual exceptions, by every Finnish citizen (man or woman) who has reached his or her 24th year. There are 16 electoral districts with a representation proportioned to the popu- lation^ rearrangement being required every 1 years. Each district is divided into voting circuits. The voting system, devised with a view to proportional representation, provides for the formation of voters' associations which prepare three-name lists of candidates, the votes for whom are in a falling scale according to the order in which the voter has placed them. There may, within limits, be compacts between associations, and joint candidates may be entered in competing lists, while any voter may either support an association list or vote for any candidate he pleases. Every citizen entitled to vote is eligible to the House of Representatives, which is elected for 3 years. The President is elected for 6 years by the votes of the citizens. He receives a salary of 150,000 marks and 250,000 marks for allowances.

At the elections held in March, 1919, the following parties were returned: — Social-Democrats, 80; Finnish Coalition Party, 28; Finnish Progressive Party, 26 ; Agrarians, 42 ; Swedish Party, 22 ; and Christian Labour Party, 2.

President of Finland. — Professor Kaarlo Juho Sidhlberg (elected July, 1919).

The Finnish Cabinet, appointed April, 1921, is composed as follows : —

Prime Minister. — Dr. Juho Vcnnola.

Minister for Foreign Affairs. — Dr. Eino Rudolf Woldemar Holsti.

Minister of Finance. — Risto Ryti.

Minister of the Interior.— 11 eikki Ritavuori.

Minister of Justice — Dr. Heimo Hclmincn.

Minister of Education. — Niilo Liakka.

Minister of War. — Lieutenant-Colonel O. Hamdldincn.

Minister of Communications. — Erkki PuUine*,

Minister of Commerce and Industries. — Erkki Makkoncn.

Minister of Social Affairs. — Vilkku Joukahainen.

Minister of Agriculture. — Kyosti Kallio.

Minister without Portfolio. — Juho Niukkancn.

Area and Population.

Area, 125,689 square miles. Of the area, 10.83 per cent, is under lakes.

By a peace treaty between the Soviet Government of Russia and the Finnish Government, ratified on December 31, 1920, the former agreed to make over to the latter the territory of Petchenga extending from the