1917 Finnish parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in the Grand Duchy of Finland on 1 and 2 October 1917. The general voter turnout was higher than in previous elections. The Social Democrats lost the absolute majority that they had had in the previous two elections (although they, like the other parties, had increased their number of votes in absolute terms). In other words, the "bourgeois" (non-socialist) parties taken together now had more than half the seats.

1917 Finnish parliamentary election
1–2 October 1917
All 200 seats in the Parliament of Finland
101 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Kullervo Manner
Party SDP Finnish–Young Finnish–People's
Last election 47.29%, 103 seats 29.99%, 56 seats
Seats won 92 61
Seat change Decrease 11 Increase 5
Popular vote 444,670 299,516
Percentage 44.79% 30.17%
Swing Decrease 2.50pp Increase 0.18pp
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Filip Saalasti Eric von Rettig
Party Agrarian RKP
Last election 9.00%, 19 seats 11.76%, 21 seats
Seats won 26 21
Seat change Increase 7 Steady
Popular vote 122,900 108,190
Percentage 12.38% 10.90%
Swing Increase 3.38pp Decrease 0.86pp
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Background

The elections were the result of the constitutional crisis in Finland caused by the Russian revolution. As Russian Tsar Nicholas, head of state in Finland, had abdicated without a successor, the Finnish Parliament stated that it would become the highest power in internal matters. The Russian Provisional Government did not accept this, but ordered premature parliamentary elections, which was thought illegal by the Socialists.

Campaign

The Social Democrats demanded the quick implementation of eight-hour work day and the quick freeing of tenant farmers. The bourgeois parties, on average, wanted first to ensure that Finland would become fully independent, and only then to implement such social and economic reforms.[1][2]

Results
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Social Democratic Party444,67044.7992–11
Finnish Party–Young Finnish Party–People's Party299,51630.1761+5
Agrarian League122,90012.3826+7
Swedish People's Party108,19010.90210
Christian Workers' Union15,4891.560–1
Others1,9970.200–
Total992,762100.002000
Valid votes992,76299.51
Invalid/blank votes4,9030.49
Total votes997,665100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,441,07569.23
Source: Mackie & Rose[3]

References
  1. Seppo Zetterberg et al (2003) A Small Giant of the Finnish History WSOY
  2. Allan Tiitta and Seppo Zetterberg (1992) Finland Through the Ages Reader's Digest
  3. Thomas T. Mackie & Richard Rose (1991) The International Almanac of Electoral History, Macmillan, p243 (vote figures)
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