Capitalnome: Helsinki coordenadas geográficas: 60 10 N, 24 56 E diferença do tempo: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October Independência6 Dezembro 1917 (from Russia) Feriado nacionalDia da independência, 6 Dezembro (1917) Constitución1 Março 2000 Sufrágio18 anos de idade; universal Poder Executivochefe do estado: Presidente Tarja HALONEN (desde 1 March 2000) cabeça de governo: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (desde 24 June 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (desde 19 April 2007) cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2012); the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament must approve the appointment; Prime Minister VANHANEN reelected 17 April 2007 election results: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti Vanhanen (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA (VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held 29 January 2006 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%; Matti VANHANEN relected prime minister; election results 121-71 note: government coalition - Kesk, KOK, VIHR, and SFP |