Finland to mark centenary of constitutional democracy

Finland will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the country’s constitutional democracy as laid down by the Constitution Act.

Together with the Parliament Act, Election Act and Municipal Election Act adopted earlier, the Constitution Act guides building the Finnish society and Finland as a whole into a modern rule of law state, said an official press release.

The Finnish Parliament adopted the Constitution Act of Finland in June 1919, and it was confirmed by the Regent of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim on 17 July 1919.

The Constitution Act was in force until the new Constitution of Finland was adopted in 2000.

The 100th anniversary of Finland’s constitutional democracy in 2019 is the last one of the special years for Finland’s independence and the process to build Finland as a democratic society and state.

In 2016 Finland celebrated the 110th anniversary of the parliamentary reforms that implemented universal and equal suffrage. This is when Finnish women, as the first ones in the world, gained full political rights, suffrage and the right to stand as candidates in elections. Next year, in 2017, Finland celebrated the 100th anniversary of independence, and 2018 was the commemorative year of the Civil War, a very tragic chapter in the Finnish history of independence.

The 100th anniversary of Finland’s constitutional democracy celebrates the country’s democratic state and society, parliamentary decision-making and fundamental rights of citizens.

The 100th anniversary of Finland’s constitutional democracy will be celebrated during next summer and autumn.

The anniversary day is 17 July 2019, which this year is also one of the official flag days. Most of the official celebrations and other events will take place in September.

On Tuesday, September 10, the 100th anniversary of Finland’s constitutional democracy will be celebrated at the parliament, and on certain days during the same week the Presidential Palace, Parliament Building, Government Palace and House of the Estates will have an open house. In September the National Archives and National Museum will also have special exhibitions and programmes relating to constitutional democracy.