1919 Finnish parliamentary election

1919 Finnish parliamentary election

1–3 March 1919
All 200 seats in the Parliament of Finland 101 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Väinö Tanner Santeri Alkio Hugo Suolahti Party SDP Agrarian National Coalition Last election 44.79%, 92 seats 12.38%, 26 seats – Seats won 80 42 26 Seat change 12 16 New Popular vote 365,046 189,297 151,018 Percentage 37.98% 19.70% 15.71% Swing 6.81pp 7.32pp New   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Oskari Mantere Eric von Rettig Party National Progressive RKP Last election – 10.90%, 21 seats Seats won 26 22 Seat change new 1 Popular vote 123,090 116,582 Percentage 12.81% 12.13% Swing new 1.23pp
Prime Minister before election Lauri Ingman National Coalition Prime Minister after election Kaarlo Castrén National Progressive

Ballot paper

Parliamentary elections were held in Finland between 1 and 3 March 1919. The Social Democratic Party emerged as the largest in Parliament with 80 of the 200 seats. Voter turnout was 67%.

Background

In 1919, Finland was still reeling from the violent and traumatic effects of its Civil War. Many Whites (rightists and centrists) felt that a strong national government was necessary to prevent a new civil war. Some conservatives, especially monarchists, even wondered if Finland should keep its democratic and universal right to vote (for example Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, in the White Army's victory parade in Helsinki in May 1918, he called for the giving of Finland's leadership to a strong leader, free from partisan wrangling).

Liberals, such as the first President Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg, believed that discontent with Finland's political, social and economic order would be removed by making reforms. Monarchists had elected Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse (a state of Germany) as the Finnish King in October 1918, but he had renounced the throne in December 1918, conscious of the problems that Finland would have in its relations with the United Kingdom and the United States if it had a citizen of the defeated Germany as its king. The parties that favoured a republic (Social Democrats, Agrarians and Progressives) disagreed on how much power the head of state (President) should have. The monarchist parties (National Coalitioners and Swedish People's Party) favoured a strong presidency if there was going to be a republic at all.

In the end, enough Finnish voters sided with the pro-republic parties that also promised significant social reforms, such as the freeing of tenant farmers and the distribution of excess farmland to them.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Social Democratic Party	365,046	37.98	80	–12
	Agrarian League	189,297	19.70	42	+16
	National Coalition Party	151,018	15.71	28	New
	National Progressive Party	123,090	12.81	26	New
	Swedish People's Party	116,582	12.13	22	+1
	Christian Workers' Union	14,718	1.53	2	+2
	Others	1,350	0.14	0	–
Total		961,101	100.00	200	0
Valid votes		961,101	99.51
Invalid/blank votes		4,771	0.49
Total votes		965,872	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		1,438,709	67.13
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Aftermath

On 25 July 1919 Ståhlberg defeated Mannerheim in the presidential elections.

See also

• List of members of the Parliament of Finland, 1919–1922