23 October 2000
Inquiries: Mr Risto Lättilä +358 9
1734 3252, Ms Tarja Mård +358 9 1734 3563,
Ms Eeva Heinonen +358 9 1734 3268
E-mail vaalit.tilastokeskus@stat.fi,
Internet http://www.stat.fi/vaalit/index_en.html
Director in charge: Riitta Harala
The Centre Party successful in the Municipal elections in unemployment and service industry areas
Compared to the previous Municipal elections, the Centre Party, the winner of the elections was most successful in areas where unemployment is highest, while the National Coalition Party lost most in those areas. The Social Democratic Party lost most in areas of low unemployment, while the Coalition Party and the Green League, in particular, increased their support in low unemployment areas.
The data are based on an analysis made by Statistics Finland, which examines the change in votes cast from the 1996 Municipal elections according to certain variables. The analysis is based on information from almost 2,000 polling stations.
In comparison to the previous Municipal elections, the Social Democratic Party lost especially in areas where the significance of service industries is high. The Centre Party raised its support in those same areas. However, the most successful in service industry areas was the Green League.
The Coalition Party did well in high-income areas, but lost in other areas. The Greens also won in high-income areas, while the Swedish People's Party and the SDP lost in those areas.
Majority of candidates men and representatives of large age groups
A total of 39,744 candidates were nominated for the Municipal elections. Thirty-eight per cent of the candidates were women; the proportion of women rose by two percentage points from the previous elections. Of the elected councillors, 34.4 per cent were women.
The average age of the candidates was about 46 years. The average age of elected men was 48.5 and of women 45.5 years. Clearly fewer under 30-year-olds were elected than is their proportion of the total population. This information is derived from a survey Statistics Finland made on the social background of the Municipal election candidates and persons entitled to vote.
The candidates were better educated, better employed and had a higher income than those entitled to vote, on average. In 1998 the average taxable income of the candidates was FIM 136,000, while that of persons entitled to vote was FIM 103,000.
Source: Statistics Finland's election result service