1991 Finnish parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Finland on 17 March 1991, the first time a Finnish parliamentary election had been held on a single day.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p606 For the first time since 1962 the Social Democratic Party was displaced as the largest party in the Eduskunta, with the Centre Party winning 55 seats and forming the first centre-right, non-social democratic government since 1964,Paavo Väyrynen (1993) It Is Time for the Truth 2: Facts and Memories About Mauno Koivisto's Finland, WSOY with Esko Aho as Prime Minister.

Results

By electoral district Electoral districtTotalseatsSeats wonKeskSDPKokVasRKPVihrSKLSMPLKPL–S–GÅland11Central Finland10331111Häme1334411Helsinki201562231Kymi134531Lapland8512North Karelia73211North Savo1052111Oulu18922311Pirkanmaa152442111Satakunta12332211South Savo8332Uusimaa3047824311Vaasa186321411Varsinais-Suomi174442111Total2005548401911108711Source: Statistics Finland

Aftermath The new center-right coalition government would not have an easy time governing the country. The fall of the Soviet Union caused a collapse in trade with the east, which together with a worldwide recession, caused major economic problems including high unemployment and ballooning budget deficits. In response, the government adopted strict austerity measures, such as cuts in public spending, the unpopularity of which led to the government's defeat in the 1995 elections.

References