Number of female MPs surges to all-time record levels

Over 70 new parliamentarians, while average age remains same

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Finland's new Parliament will have more female MPs than ever before in Finnish history. With all the votes counted on Sunday night, a total of 84 women and 116 men appeared to have gained a seat in Parliament. The proportion of women is now 42 per cent of all MPs. In comparison, the corresponding percentage in the 2003 elections was 37.5, when 75 were elected.
      The previous record for female MPs was reached in 1991, with a total of 77 women gaining a seat in Parliament.
     
Currently, in four Parliamentary Groups the majority of MPs are women: in the groups of the Greens, the Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats, and in the Swedish People's Party. In the previous Parliament, only the Green League had a female majority.
      Proportionally, the position of women strengthened most in the True Finns party, with one woman in the group of five MPs. Previously the party had just three male MPs and was in danger of being profiled as an all-male bastion.
      The Left Alliance has the most "masculine" parliamentary group: 14 men and just three women.
     
The makeup of Parliament changed a good deal, as 28 MPs resigned their seats voluntarily, and 44 failed to renew their mandate. A total of 72 new parliamentarians thus managed to secure a place, 33 of them being women.
      Just two new Members of Parliament are under 30, namely Tuomo Puumala, 24, (Centre) and Oras Tynkkynen, 29, (Greens).
      Instead, 13 candidates aged 63 or over gained a seat in the new Parliament. However, the average age of MPs did not rise, staying at around 48 years. Moreover, none of the new collection of MPs are over 70 years old.
      In terms of the average age, the Left Alliance has the oldest Parliamentary Group (ave. 53.4 years), while the youngest group is the Greens (40.2 years).
      The "most senior" member of the new Parliament is Claes Andersson, 69, (Left Alliance). He will act as a presiding officer until a new Speaker of Parliament has been elected.
     
A number of changes will take place, as several Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Parliamentary Groups failed to secure their seats. In addition, the Chairmen of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, the Defence Committee, and the Agriculture and Forestry Committee all lost their seats. In addition, the chairs of three other committees resigned their seats voluntarily.
      Two-thirds of the new MPs have a university degree. Almost every second has a family with children, while 70 per cent of all MPs are married. The number of singles decreased from over 25 per cent in the previous elections to 19 per cent.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  National Coalition Party win ringing election endorsement (19.3.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat