by Sven Triloqvist
Sun Mar 18th, 2007 at 08:18:11 AM EST
I'll throw this up as an assembly point for any information and comment about today's parliamentary elections in Finland.
The vote falls on the 100th anniversary of Finland's first elections, which was the first worldwide to give women the right to run for office.
Some things to remember:
- Electorate = 4.3 million
- Seats = 200
- Unicameral parliament
- Proportional Representation
- 30% have already cast their votes in Finland's advance voting period.
- There are total 2,611 polling stations in the entire country.
- Polling stations opened at 9:00 a.m. local time.
- After the closure of the polling stations at 8:00 p.m., the results of the advance voting will be published.
- Usually, preliminary results for the entire election are ready at 11:00 p.m. local time.
From the diaries ~ whataboutbob
A snippy town roundup:
Finland, home to the world's largest mobile phone maker, Nokia Corp., has a booming economy and a falling unemployment rate. It consistently ranks high in international surveys on competitiveness.
None of the main parties is calling for any big changes. The Conservatives are more open to NATO membership, but are not pushing the issue because of strong opposition to it in a country that shares a 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) border with Russia.
The Greens are hoping growing concerns about climate change will give them a record 10 percent in the polls and an invitation to join the next coalition government.
As part of their campaign, the Greens have screened former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's film about global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth."
"We have been showing it all over the country," said Heidi Hautala, a candidate for the Greens. "This has really helped us a lot."
A poll released Friday indicated the Center Party had 24.7 percent support, while the Social Democrats had 21.3 percent and the Conservatives 20.4 percent. In line with tradition, the leader of the biggest party is tasked with forming a new government.
The Greens overtook the ex-communist Left Alliance to become the fourth biggest party with 9.7 percent support, according to the survey. The Swedish People's Party, the third coalition partner, had 5 percent.
Latest news shows lively voting, with queues in some stations. Voter turnout looks set to be higher than 4 years ago.
I will vote later today after working in the studio. I am still in two minds - neither of which I shall reveal ;-) I have to go back and reread my two candidates statements
There's a poll for fun....
