Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at the opening of the 2007 session of Parliament, 28 March 2007

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This year’s parliamentary election marked the centenary of universal suffrage in Finland and the centenary of our unicameral Parliament. In the first parliamentary election, 19 women were elected to Parliament. Today, there are 84 women members among you, the largest number in the history of Parliament to date. I shall follow with interest how this influences debate and decision-making in Parliament.

In a democratic country, the outcome of the election enshrines the will of the people. However, the proportional representation system that we use can lead to inequality between different parts of the country. This is a problem that has been known for a long time. In the late 1990s, Parliament on two occasions called for an investigation of the anomalies in proportional representation in parliamentary elections. Accordingly, working groups have submitted proposals on how to reform the electoral system. However, so far the political parties have not reached a consensus; yet a reform may be worth considering once again.

Something that legislation cannot influence, on the other hand, is voter turnout. For this reason, joint measures have been taken to encourage people to vote.

In this year’s parliamentary election, just under 68 per cent of the electorate went to the polls, the lowest figure since the 1945 election. In this, we are different from the other Nordic countries, where voter turnout is substantially higher.

In a broader international comparison, our voter turnout is relatively high, but the trend is worrying: voter turnout in general elections has been declining steadily for the past two decades. It has been even more pronounced in local elections than in parliamentary elections. Presidential elections have since the 1980s enjoyed a higher turnout than any other elections.

Representational democracy is based on the right to vote: Members of Parliament get their mandate from the people. Today, citizens have better opportunities than ever for finding information on social issues, and, particularly, in the run-up to elections the political parties and their candidates aim to communicate a great deal of information on their aims and opinions through a variety of channels.

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Finland and the other Nordic countries traditionally have a strong civil society. The Nordic welfare society rests on informed public opinion, which takes the needs of different population groups and generations into account. This is highly important in creating social justice spanning the generations and in developing the information society. The importance of shared responsibility is increasing as we aim for ecologically sustainable development.

The low voter turnout among young people is a cause for concern with regard to our common future. Homes and schools can help children and adolescents become active members of society. Organizations also have a role to play in helping young people grow up into independent adults who also care about other people.

The civil society is important for all of us. Political parties are important in a representational democracy, but there are also countless non-governmental organizations and other bodies that exert an influence in society. We should also remember that responsibility for the development of the majority of sports and cultural services, but also health care and social welfare services, rests on the civil society.

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Current demographic predictions show that the size of the working-age population will begin to decline for the first time in the history of our country. Certain significant reforms were enacted in the previous electoral period to respond to the challenges of ageing. The retirement age is now gradually rising. Public opinion has woken up to the importance of experience, and we have good potential for helping people find the energy to stay at work longer.

Nevertheless, the fact that the population is growing older means that service needs are increasing. It is important to ensure that everyone has access to the services and the care they need throughout their lives. At the moment, there are serious shortcomings in the care of the elderly. Correcting these will require added resources. These issues were much discussed in election debates, and I dare to hope, Members of Parliament, that improvements will be achieved.

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Global challenges, such as combating climate change and achieving a fairer globalization, await your attention. Managing our foreign and security policy requires close cooperation between the President and the Government, and a working connection with Parliament is needed too. A good example of this is the preparation and adoption of the foreign and security policy report, where the President, the Government and Parliament each have a role to play.

In the past electoral period, there was much discussion about the development of the European Union. The previous Parliament wanted to proceed with ratification of the Constitutional Treaty. Member States have not yet achieved a consensus regarding the Treaty, however.

The European Union does need a new founding treaty. Germany, the current Presidency holder, has an ambitious plan, which deserves the support of all the other Member States.

It seems probable that a new round of talks will be begun in the EU to achieve a consensus regarding the new treaty. It is therefore evident that this Parliament will be discussing the matter, which is of great importance to the future.

Membership of the European Union has had a substantial impact on Finland’s foreign and security policy status. The EU is of fundamental importance to the development of our continent. It is also our domestic market area in an increasingly global world. It is a union of like-minded nations which increases our influence in our efforts to promote sustainable development.

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Finland and we Finns have a lot to do. Our influence is naturally greatest in our neighbouring areas, and one of our aims is to achieve a Baltic Sea region that is safe, clean and prosperous.

Nine countries border on the Baltic Sea. Economic growth in the area is rapid, and sea traffic is increasing strongly. There is great potential for cooperation in the Baltic Sea area, and there are great challenges too. Achieving a safe and clean Baltic Sea requires the cooperation of all the countries in the area.


Mr Speaker, Members of Parliament,

There are challenges beyond our immediate neighbourhood. I hope and trust that you will have the interest and the time to improve our world in a broader context. A fairer world is a better and safer place for all of us to live.

The people of Finland have given you their trust. I wish you wisdom and every success in your demanding task. I hereby declare the 2007 session of Parliament open.