Editing Politics of Finland (section)

== History ==
{{main|Political history of Finland}}

=== Autonomous but under Russian rule ===
[[File:Schauman shoots Bobrikov.jpg|thumb|The assassination of General Governor [[Nikolay Bobrikov]] by [[Eugen Schauman]] was the culmination of activism of the militant wing of the [[Fennoman movement|Fennomans]].]]
A Finnish political identity and distinctively Finnish politics first developed under the Russian rule in the country from 1809 to 1917. During the era Finland had an autonomous position within the [[Russian Empire]] with its own legislative powers. However, all bills had to be signed into law by the Russian Emperor who was the Grand Duke of Finland. Also, military power was firmly in Russian hands. Previously Finland had been a part of Sweden and did not have any political institutions of its own, rather people of Finnish ethnicity participated in Swedish politics.<ref name="LOC">{{cite book |last1=Solsten |first1=Eric |last2=Meditz |first2=Sandra W. |title=Finland: a country study |url=http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gdc/cntrystd.fi |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |year=1990}}</ref>

=== Independence and civil war ===
The Finnish Senate issued a [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|declaration of independence]] on 6 December 1917, after Russia's second [[October Revolution|revolution in October]] 1917. The [[Council of People's Commissars of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Council of People's Commissars of Soviet Russia]], chaired by [[Vladimir Lenin|Lenin]], recognized Finland's independence on 31 December 1917, and soon after that many other states followed.

On 28 January 1918, a [[Finnish Civil War|civil war]] broke out that ended in the victory of German-backed [[Whites (Finland)|Whites]] against Bolshevik-backed [[Reds (Finland)|Reds]]. In the same year the volunteers made some [[Heimosodat|armed expeditions]] into Soviet Russia, including Karelia, and also Estonia. The Finnish Civil War was part of the [[First World War]]. The war was fought between the [[Senate of Finland|Finnish Senate]], i.e. the forces led by the government, and the [[Finnish People's Delegation]], from 27 January to 16 May 1918. The Senate forces were called Whites and the People's Delegation forces Reds.

=== Second World War ===
During the Second World War, Finland fought three wars: the [[Winter War]], the [[Continuation War]] and the [[Lapland War]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Professori: Lapin sota on unohdettu, seurauksia kantavat lappilaiset |url=http://www.studio55.fi/tastapuhutaan/article/professori-lapin-sota-on-unohdettu-seurauksia-kantavat-lappilaiset/5541434 |work=Studio 55 |date=2015}}</ref>

According to the ceasefire agreement, in addition to the territorial losses following the Winter War, Finland had to hand over [[Petsamo–Kirkenes offensive|Petsamo]] and lease [[Porkkalanniemi|Porkkala]] as a base for 50 years. War reparations were set at US$300 million. The terms of the ceasefire agreement were finally confirmed in the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty.

=== Urho Kekkonen's rule ===
After the wars, Finland became a [[Nordic model|Nordic welfare state]].

At the beginning of 1973, [[Urho Kekkonen]] was exceptionally elected president without elections or candidates, which today is considered by some{{who|date=June 2024}} to be the {{citation needed span|nadir of Finnish democracy|date=June 2024}} and marked the beginning of the final era for Kekkonen.

=== Integration to the West ===
[[File:President Ronald Reagan meeting with President Mauno Koivisto.jpg|thumb|[[Ronald Reagan]] with [[Mauno Koivisto]] in May 1988]]
In 1982, [[Mauno Koivisto]] was elected president to succeed Kekkonen, promising to reduce the powers of the president and increase those of the prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Raiskila |first1=Erja |title=Statesman from humble background, Mauno Koivisto led Finland into EU |url=https://finland.fi/life-society/statesman-humble-background-mauno-koivisto-led-finland-eu/ |work=thisisFINLAND |date=24 May 2017}}</ref>

The convergence of Finland and the [[European Community]] began in the autumn of 1989 with the decision to join the [[European Economic Area]] (EEA).<ref>{{cite web |title=The European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the North {{!}} Fact Sheets on the European Union {{!}} European Parliament |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/169/the-european-economic-area-eea-switzerland-and-the-north |website=www.europarl.europa.eu |language=en |date=30 September 2023}}</ref>

Following a positive vote in Parliament, Finland's application for EC membership was submitted on 18 March 1992, and membership negotiations began on 1 February 1993 at the same time as with [[Sweden]] and [[Austria]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European Union - Subject files - CVCE Website |url=https://www.cvce.eu/en/collections/unit-content/-/unit/df06517b-babc-451d-baf6-a2d4b19c1c88/ff4dba1b-7691-48a8-b489-51393c82c951 |website=www.cvce.eu}}</ref>

Finland joined the [[European Union]] in 1995. In 2002, the [[euro]] replaced the [[Finnish markka|markka]] as Finland's official currency.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finland and the euro - European Commission |url=https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/euro/eu-countries-and-euro/finland-and-euro_en |website=economy-finance.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>

After almost 30 years of close partnership with [[NATO]], Finland joined the Alliance on 4 April 2023. Finland's partnership with NATO was historically based on its policy of military non-alignment, which changed following [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine]] in February 2022.<ref name="nato_int">{{cite web |title=Relations with Finland |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49594.htm |website=nato.int |access-date=4 March 2024}}</ref> On 1 March 2024, [[Alexander Stubb]], a staunch supporter of NATO, was sworn in as Finland's new president.<ref name="usnews.com">{{cite web |title=Finland's New President Alexander Stubb Says the Nordic Country Enters 'A New Era' as a NATO Member |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2024-03-01/finlands-new-president-alexander-stubb-says-the-nordic-country-enters-a-new-era-as-a-nato-member |website=usnews.com |access-date=5 March 2024}}</ref>