Finland country profile – BBC News

Despite its relatively small population, Finland has served as a trendsetter in many fields since its independence in 1917.

Consistently scores highly in international assessments of stability, freedom, public safety and social progress

That parliament was the first to adopt full gender equality, granting men and women not only the right to vote but also the right to stand for office in 1906.

Finland declared independence from Russia in 1917, but after the defeat of the Soviet Union in World War II, it had to tolerate strong Moscow influence until the end of the Cold War.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 caused a major change in Finland’s foreign policy, and Finland is now a member of NATO.

President: Sauli Niinisto (retired)

Finland’s presidential election will be held on January 28, 2024, with the second round of voting scheduled for February 11. Conservative former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb and former Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto qualified for the second election, which was held against the backdrop of deteriorating relations with neighboring Russia.

The current president, Sauli Niinistö, has served the maximum of two terms and cannot stand for re-election.

Niinistö won the 2012 and 2018 presidential elections, becoming the country’s first conservative head of state in 50 years. During his tenure as Finance Minister from 1996 to 2001, he was credited with guiding Finland’s post-Soviet economy to growth.

Finland’s president currently has less power than in past decades and has a largely ceremonial role, but he can be an important shaper of public opinion.

Prime Minister: Peteri Olpo

In the April 2023 election, Conservative Party leader Petteri Orpo won a close victory over centre-left incumbent Sanna Marin.

His National Coalition party won 20.8% of the vote, ahead of the right-wing populist Finland Party with 20.1% and Marin’s center-left Social Democratic Party with 19.9%.

He heads a coalition of the conservative NCP, the nationalist Finns, the minority-speaking Swedish People’s Party and the Christian Democrats.

Defining himself as a “fiscal conservative,” Olpo campaigned on the promise of reducing Finland’s government debt and annual budget deficit, as well as cutting income taxes.

The election was mainly fought over the Finnish economy, as all mainstream parties supported NATO membership.

Television is the most popular media. Public broadcaster Yle operates alongside a commercial network.

The current state of press freedom has been praised by international press freedom organizations.

Some important events in Finnish history:

12th-13th century – A series of crusades by the Danes and Swedes to conquer the Finns and convert them to Christianity.

13th century onwards – Finland comes under Swedish rule

1695-97 – The Great Famine is a devastating famine that affects Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, and Sweden, killing approximately one-third of Finland’s population.

1700-21 – Great Northern War: Russian forces occupy Finland, and Sweden cedes Finnish territory to Russia. Finland is suffering from severe epidemics carried by trade routes and invading forces.

1742-43 – Russo-Swedish War: Russian forces occupy Finland again, and Sweden once again cedes Finnish territory to Russia.

1808 – Russia’s invasion of Sweden with the support of Napoleon.

1809 – Finland is ceded to Russia by the Swedes. Finland becomes an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire and retains considerable autonomy. Finns maintain their own legal system and religion and are exempt from Russian military service.

Since 1899 – Attempts to Russify Finland, including the conscription of Finnish men into the Russian army and the imposition of Russian as the official language. The civil disobedience movement begins.

1906 – An Act of Parliament establishes universal suffrage, including the right for women to stand for election for the first time in Europe.

1917 – The Russian Revolution allows Finland to declare independence.

1918 – Civil War: A rebellion by the left-wing Red Guards is put down by General Karl Gustav Emil Mannerheim.

1939-1940 – Winter War: Despite fierce resistance to invading Soviet forces, the Finns were forced to concede 10% of their territory.

1941-1944 – Continuing War: The conflict between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II ends with an armistice, and Finland must pay reparations.

1948 – Finland concluded a treaty of friendship with the Soviet Union and pursued a policy of friendship and neutrality toward Moscow throughout the Cold War.

1955 – Finland joins the United Nations and the Nordic Council.

1992 – The 1948 Treaty of Friendship with the Soviet Union was declared invalid due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Finland is tilting further and further west.

1995 – Finland joins the European Union.

the year of 2000 – Tarja Halonen elected as Finland’s first female president.

2002 – The Finnish mark will be replaced by the euro.

2010 – Finland becomes the first country in the world to give its citizens a legal right to broadband internet.

2016 -Amid growing concerns about Russia’s military activities in the Baltic Sea region, Finland signs an agreement for close defense cooperation with the United States.

2022 – Finland and Sweden apply to join NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

2023 – Finland becomes a member of NATO.