Political Framework

Finland is a representative democracy with a semi-presidential parliamentary. According to the constitution, the president is the head of state and responsible for foreign policy (which excludes affairs related to European Union) in cooperation with the cabinet.

The state organisation is divided into six administrative provinces (“lääni”), though they have little significance. Police, prosecutors, and other state services operate under the administration of the province, which is again divided to administratively insignificant districts. After 1997 reforms the provinces have been Southern Finland, Western Finland, Eastern Finland, Oulu, Lapland, Åland. The province of Åland Islands is autonomous. As of 2008, there were 415 municipalities and most were under 5000 residents.