11 Finland: Let the Force Be with the Leader—But Who Is the Leader?

Abstract

Since the early 1980s, the regime type of the Finnish political system has gradually mutated, because of the complementary processes of de-presidentialization and re-presidentialization. The former entailed the erosion of the formal prerogatives of the President and a switch from a semi-presidential towards a parliamentary type of executive. This process culminated in the coming into force of a totally new constitution in 2000. Re-presidentialization, in turn, consists of the growing power of the Prime Minister within the newly parliamentarized political executive. Most of the causes of the de facto ‘re-presidentialization’ of Finnish politics are structural rather than contingent. The internal activities of political parties have declined as they have transformed themselves into modern electoralist organizations, and the autonomy of the leaders from their parties has increased. Partisan dealignment and ideological convergence between the parties has made space for the personalization of politics. The personalization of politics, in combination with the declining role of party organizations, enhances the autonomy of party leaders within their own parties. In contemporary Finland, the leaders with the strongest presidential capacities contest the premiership rather than the presidency.

Who Decides WhatEUIssues Ministers Talk About? Explaining GovernmentalEUPolicy Co‐Ordination inFinland

“…However, in practice, the most important decisions are often taken in discussions between the leaders of the coalition parties. (Nousiainen, ; Paloheimo, 2003; 2005; Tiili, ; Kekkonen and Raunio, )…”

“…However, in practice, the most important decisions are often taken in discussions between the leaders of the coalition parties. (Nousiainen, 2000;Paloheimo, 2003;2005;Tiili, 2008;Kekkonen and Raunio, 2011) When compared with other European countries, Finnish governments are outliers in three respects: their parliamentary support, level of fragmentation and ideological diversity. The oversized cross-bloc coalitions, bringing together parties from the left and the right, have controlled safe majorities in the Eduskunta, the unicameral national parliament.…”

The Rising Power of the Prime Minister in Finland

“…In two other papers I have shown that, in the 1990s, evaluation of the skilfulness of party leadership became an important factor affecting voting decisions (Paloheimo 2002;2003). The party loyalty of the voters is declining.…”

Economic voting in Finland before and after an economic crisis

“…The distribution of governmental portfolios is bargained between the coalition, and main coalition parties usually take care of state finances, foreign affairs and social welfare issues. Since the late 1970s, the prime minister has traditionally come from the party that wins the elections and the portfolio of minister of finance has always been given the second largest party in the coalition (Paloheimo, 2003(Paloheimo, , 2007b.…”