1994 Finnish presidential election explained

Country:Finland
Type:presidential
Previous Election:1988 Finnish presidential election
Previous Year:1988
Next Election:2000 Finnish presidential election
Next Year:2000
Election Date:16 January 1994 (first round)
6 February 1994 (second round)
Turnout:78.43% (first round)
78.68% (second round)
Image1:Martti Ahtisaari Mäntyniemessä (cropped).jpg
Candidate1:Martti Ahtisaari
Party1:Social Democratic Party of Finland
Popular Vote1:1,723,485
Percentage1:53.86%
Candidate2:Elisabeth Rehn
Party2:Swedish People's Party of Finland
Popular Vote2:1,476,294
Percentage2:46.14%
President
Before Election:Mauno Koivisto
Before Party:Social Democratic Party of Finland
After Election:Martti Ahtisaari
After Party:Social Democratic Party of Finland

Presidential elections were held in Finland on 16 January 1994, with a second round on 6 February.[1] It was the first time the President had been solely and directly elected by a popular vote. Martti Ahtisaari defeated Elisabeth Rehn in the second round.[2]

Voter turnout was 78.4% in the first round and 78.7% in the second.[3] This was an open presidential election, because the two-term Finnish President, Mauno Koivisto, had refused to seek a third term. His popularity had also clearly declined since Finland entered into a deep economic recession in 1991.

Martti Ahtisaari, a former primary school teacher and a long-time United Nations diplomat, emerged as the frontrunner after winning the Social Democratic presidential primary in the spring of 1993. Having lived abroad for many years during his diplomatic career, he was at first largely unknown to most Finnish voters. On the other hand, he appeared not to be tainted with political scandals or allegations of opportunism, contrary to some of his opponents, especially the Centre Party presidential candidate, Paavo Väyrynen. This was also the first Finnish presidential election to include a popular female candidate. Elisabeth Rehn, the small Swedish People's Party's presidential candidate, appealed to voters through her reputation as a diligent, caring and sincere woman. She was serving as Defence Minister during the election.

Rehn's popularity rose dramatically in early January 1994, helping her defeat her two major bourgeois rivals, Väyrynen and the National Coalition candidate, Raimo Ilaskivi. Väyrynen bitterly blamed the media for scheming to make his support appear to be falling just before the first round of voting. Some Finns voted tactically for Rehn on the first round to eliminate Väyrynen from the second round. Ahtisaari and Rehn agreed on many issues, such as Finland's intention to become a member of the European Union. They disagreed partly on economic issues, with Ahtisaari favouring more economic stimulation and Rehn viewing increased economic stimulus sceptically. The three-week period between the first and second rounds of voting saw Ahtisaari's support rise significantly, and during the final week of campaigning opinion polls showed him leading Rehn.[4] [5] [6] [7]

Results

By province

First round

ProvinceElisabeth RehnKeijo KorhonenClaes AnderssonEeva KuuskoskiToimi KankaanniemiSulo AittoniemiPekka TiainenElectorateVotesValidInvalid
Southern Savonia30,50417,13529,49914,8685,7721,7432,7612,7691,6711,002116135,687108,155107,840315
Northern Savonia38,03727,17644,20116,95013,9505,496 3,8434,6391,7171,495316199,494158,201 157,820 381
North Karelia31,99014,25025,27413,78110,0251,8742,8863,4151,6011,089181136,007106,645106,366279
Kainuu7,8244,65913,8574,03924,0562,5019811,10537724716172,98259,95759,807150
Uusimaa202,936243,11957,044140,85026,16531,38223,52017,5274,5924,2841,735903,287754,803753,1541,649
Eastern Uusimaa13,17724,5615,3585,7061,5181,3321,34487433531411565,49754,71254,63478
Southwest Finland73,46856,59544,45449,35513,07712,2128,33610,8031,8642,665950333,960274,512273,779733
Tavastia Proper33,32118,84115,91919,7294,8013,5003,6312,4521,0361,376230127,679105,206104,836370
Päijänne Tavastia35,01426,66717,54623,7566,0873,9923,8862,8231,5331,395278154,166123,328122,977351
Kymenlaakso40,34525,76619,48419,6275,2262,9314,4322,6881,1481,204175152,635123,379123,026353
South Karelia27,75915,97220,03513,9613,9641,4392,8552,0851,11383697110,68790,41890,116302
Central Finland46,26522,41740,02617,14711,1206,9625,2545,0493,5991,542242197,538160,106159,623483
Southern Ostrobothnia19,69012,20955,28121,3127,1032,3963,7042,4012,0551,545185152,638128,185127,881304
Ostrobothnia20,40353,42815,7929,5062,6253,4091,9251,5421,135413143131,449110,572110,321251
Satakunta45,67822,24531,36626,5909,1138,4514,7443,7721,7912,085321191,434156,661156,156505
Pirkanmaa75,41052,24336,61150,50815,93314,54711,4607,2602,9165,714982333,374274,420273,584836
Central Ostrobothnia7,9418,25017,0174,0452,8581,4151,2788896195855252,89445,08144,949132
Northern Ostrobothnia43,99026,72576,27819,98716,6379,2745,6585,9841,4271,835493252,472208,853208,288565
Lapland26,54312,85654,86210,1776,2007,1742,8063,543674839474151,563126,563126,148415
Åland1,41210,4598621484910816805914618,88513,27013,21357
align=left colspan=9Source: European Election Database

Second round

ProvinceElisabeth RehnElectorateVotesValidInvalid
Southern Savonia56,90450,551135,687107,966107,455511
Northern Savonia85,21872,608199,494158,527157,826701
North Karelia61,23945,910136,007107,648107,149499
Kainuu31,19024,94472,98256,52156,134387
Uusimaa405,872350,232903,287759,479756,1043,375
Eastern Uusimaa24,44530,79565,49755,40955,240169
Southwest Finland156,749118,022333,960276,025274,7711,254
Tavastia Proper61,19344,596127,679106,316105,789527
Päijänne Tavastia71,54652,574154,166124,720124,120600
Kymenlaakso74,89850,008152,635125,440124,906534
South Karelia50,66739,902110,68791,00890,569439
Central Finland93,63765,665197,538160,106159,302804
Southern Ostrobothnia46,70676,407152,638123,899123,113786
Ostrobothnia41,26571,028131,449112,656112,293363
Satakunta94,84462,493191,434158,070157,337733
Pirkanmaa164,619109,400333,374275,349274,0191,330
Central Ostrobothnia18,14425,97752,89444,33244,121211
Northern Ostrobothnia104,482101,687252,472207,109206,169940
Lapland67,19655,695151,563123,570122,891679
Åland2,53111,45018,88414,02813,98147
align=left colspan=9Source: European Election Database

Notes and References

  1. [Dieter Nohlen]
  2. Arter. David. 1994. The 1994 Finnish presidential election: Honesty was not the best policy!. West European Politics. 17. 4. 190–192. 10.1080/01402389408425049. 0140-2382.
  3. Nohlen & Stöver, p632
  4. Timo Vihavainen, "The Welfare Finland" (Hyvinvointi-Suomi), pgs. 902-903 in Seppo Zetterberg et al., eds., A Small Giant of the Finnish History / Suomen historian pikkujättiläinen. Helsinki: WSOY, 2003
  5. Olavi Jouslehto&Jaakko Okker, From Tamminiemi To Mäntyniemi (Tamminiemestä Mäntyniemeen), pgs. 140-155. Porvoo: WSOY, 2000
  6. Tapani Ruokanen, On a Journey: Martti Ahtisaari's Story / Matkalla. Martti Ahtisaaren tarina. Helsinki: Otava Ltd., 2009, pgs. 182-191, 197-200, 204-205, 247-256
  7. What-Where-When: A Citizen's Yearbook (Mitä-Missä-Milloin - Kansalaisen vuosikirja) 1994 and 1995. Helsinki: Otava Ltd., 1993 and 1994

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