Finland

The exception

Friday 1 October 2004

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Unlike other European countries, the rate of participation in this European election in Finland was higher than in 1999, even if largely below the rate of participation in national elections.

The results of this election can be summed up in one word: stability. The parties of the ruling centre-left coalition, the KESK and SPD, were not punished and the SPD even slightly increased its 1999 vote. The Conservatives, although favourable to the end of Finnish neutrality and entry into NATO - unlike the great majority of the population - kept all their seats and their vote fell by only a little in relation to 1999. The only losers were the Greens, down by 3% and losing one of their European deputies. While many parties of Communist origin are in decline, the Finnish VAS shows a remarkable stability - it’s true that it’s not the party it was in 1958, when it won 23% of the vote, but it has remained stable since 1991 when it won 10.1%

. European 1999 parliamentary 2003 European 2004 .
.  %  %  % seats
Participation 31.4 69.7 41.1 .
Social Democratic Party (SPD) 17.9 24.5 21.16 3
Centre Party (KESK) 21.3 24.7 23.37 4
Conservative Rally (KOK) 25.3 18.6 23.71 4
Alliance of Lefts (VAS) 9.1 9.9 9.13 1
Party of the Swedish People (SFP) 6.8 4.6 5.70 1
Greens (VIHR) 13.4 8.0 10.43 1
Christian Democrats (SKL) 2.4 5.3 4.28 0