2000 Finnish presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Finland on 16 January 2000, with a second round on 6 February.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p606

The result was a victory for Tarja Halonen of the Social Democratic Party, who became the country's first female president. During the elections Halonen was the incumbent Minister for Foreign Affairs. President Martti Ahtisaari had indicated in January 1999 that he would accept the Social Democratic Party's nomination for the 2000 presidential elections, but only if no presidential primary was held. However, Jacob Söderman announced his candidacy at the start of April 1999, and during the final week of that month, Ahtisaari announced that he would not seek the Social Democratic presidential candidacy. In his memoirs, Ahtisaari claims that Tarja Halonen badly wanted to become president, a claim that Halonen has denied.

There were three other female presidential candidates in 2000: Riitta Uosukainen of the National Coalition, Elisabeth Rehn of the Swedish People's Party, and Heidi Hautala of the Greens. Halonen's popularity rose significantly during the last few months before the first round of the 2000 presidential elections, while Uosukainen's and Rehn's popularity declined. Former Prime Minister Esko Aho, the Centrist presidential candidate, emerged as the second most popular candidate. Halonen received votes from women across party lines, and she was partly helped by her lack of a major left-wing opponent, and by her reputation as a tolerant, human rights-oriented person. The election was decided by slightly over 100,000 votes, and the voter turnout was much higher than in the 1996 municipal elections or in the 1999 parliamentary elections.Tapani Ruokanen, On a Journey: Martti Ahtisaari's Story / Matkalla. Martti Ahtisaaren tarina. Helsinki: Otava Ltd., 2009, pgs. 397-411Timo Vihavainen, "The Welfare Finland" (Hyvinvointi-Suomi), pg. 903Hannu Lehtilä, Tarja Halonen: One of Us (Tarja Halonen - Yksi meistä), Helsinki: Otava Ltd., 2005

Candidates

Results

By region First round ProvinceHalonen AhoUosukainen Rehn HautalaHakalehtoKuisma ElectorateVotesValidInvalidSouth Savo35,26043,78012,4333,0872,2251,060514135,15398,66298,359303North Savo54,26568,79513,1415,3653,1021,538643203,996147,259146,849410North Karelia37,61242,99310,2512,9522,2401,179512136,78898,08397,739344Kainuu17,15827,7553,8571,27187662121972,97151,90651,757149Uusimaa356,278155,713113,87393,36041,1656,2905,1151,030,546774,121771,7942,327Eastern Uusimaa19,03012,0235,02914,4371,67236443870,20553,10352,993110Southwest Finland114,66278,96038,93120,5149,6083,1681,523360,024268,209267,366843Kanta-Häme43,20330,89015,6944,5042,661970616131,16698,87298,538334Päijät-Häme49,78835,40218,8915,1683,2441,180666159,063114,666114,339327Kymenlaakso49,68634,70319,4334,5612,836947835154,744113,433113,001432South Karelia29,34329,52820,2832,0271,818664433112,32584,39484,096298Central Finland59,85865,50115,5925,7314,6451,555723210,868154,006153,605401Southern Ostrobothnia23,33674,56714,1573,4951,4541,454361158,210119,150118,824326Ostrobothnia26,81632,4826,77836,0101,947640241150,093105,188104,914274Satakunta62,70152,05917,6955,3783,0901,950714194,211143,999143,587412Pirkanmaa120,01781,43638,37813,8579,2103,6521,784358,640269,210268,334876Central Ostrobothnia10,72425,8292,3333,00864159013257,95543,37343,257116Northern Ostrobothnia70,230100,31416,0767,3925,8282,6431,005280,748204,028203,488540Lapland42,68555,7129,2493,2852,313926458164,904115,045114,628417Åland1,7792,7172316,475165141124,59011,44311,39251

Second round ProvinceHalonen AhoElectorateVotesValidInvalidSouth Savo46,66957,195135,153104,363103,864499North Savo70,14986,573203,997157,250156,722528North Karelia48,61455,753136,788104,855104,367488Kainuu21,63634,10472,97155,95455,740214Uusimaa495,469290,3481,030,549790,870785,8175,053Eastern Uusimaa28,09625,95370,20554,34254,049293Southwest Finland152,539123,259360,024277,162275,7981,364Kanta-Häme56,55745,674131,166102,830102,231599Päijät-Häme66,66052,298159,063119,560118,958602Kymenlaakso67,04850,775154,744118,443117,823620South Karelia41,74244,091112,32586,32085,833487Central Finland78,49584,227210,868163,374162,722652Southern Ostrobothnia32,06593,911158,210126,547125,976571Ostrobothnia39,01969,890150,093109,447108,909538Satakunta79,60471,178194,211151,471150,782689Pirkanmaa157,589120,669358,640279,668278,2581,410Central Ostrobothnia13,29832,75057,95546,22046,048172Northern Ostrobothnia90,618126,767280,748218,316217,385931Lapland53,96568,162164,904122,674122,127547Åland4,7007,22624,59012,04711,926121

References