Сборник текстов для перевода. Борисова Л.А. - 82 стр.

       Changes in party rules and political programmes are not enforced before
their formal acceptance and registration in the Party Register. A political party,
which fails to gain seats in two consecutive parliamentary elections is de-
registered, but may apply anew. A political party may also apply for its deletion
from the Party Register.
       Only the central organization of a party is registered in the Party Register;
party branches, municipal organizations, and sub-national organizations are reg-
istered in the Register of Associations, which is held by the National Board of
Patents and Registration, which is under the authority of the Ministry of Trade
and Industry.
       At present, there are 11 registered political parties in Finland: The Finnish
Social Democratic Party, Centre Party of Finland, National Coalition Party,
Swedish People's Party in Finland, Christian Democrats in Finland, Green
League, Left-Wing Alliance, True Finns, Communist Party of Finland, Party for
Senior Citizens, and For Peace and Socialism.

      Party representation in Parliament
       Finland has a unicameral Parliament with 200 seats. Following the 2007
parliamentary elections, 8 out of the total number of registered parties are repre-
sented in Parliament as follows4: Centre Party (KESK) – 51 seats, National
Coalition Party (KOK) – 50 seats, Finnish Social Democratic Party (SDP) – 45
seats, Left-Wing Alliance (VAS) – 17 seats, Green League (VIHR) – 15 seats,
Swedish People‘s Party in Finland (SFP) – 9 seats, Christian Democrats in
Finland (KD) – 7 seats, True Finns (PS) – 5 seats
       In addition, one seat in Parliament is always held by a representative from
the Åland Islands (Section 25 of the Constitution).

      Participation in elections
        The right to candidacy is granted to eligible voters, except for individuals
under guardianship and professional soldiers. The positions of the Chancellor of
Justice, the Parliamentary Ombudsman, the judges of the Supreme Court or
Supreme Administrative Court, and the Prosecutor General are incompatible
with candidacy.
        According to the Constitution (731/1999), candidates may be nominated
by (a) political parties entered in the Party Register; and (b) “constituency asso-
ciations“. For parliamentary (national and European) and presidential elections,
candidates are almost invariably nominated by a political party, with the sole
exception of the province of Åland where candidates are always nominated by
constituency associations. For municipal elections, constituency associations
continue to play a role.
        In parliamentary elections, a party or constituency association is to submit
its list of candidates (candidate application) to the District Election Committee
(DEC) of the area where the candidates are to be nominated no later than 40

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