Updated 29 February 2000

Background to candidates' election success

An instant analysis was made on the election night for both rounds of the Presidential election. The analysis can be ordered separately. The analysis explained the reasons for the victory or loss of each presidential candidate. The success of the candidates was examined by area with the help of various background variables. In the first round it was compared both to the results of the Parliamentary elections 1999 and to the first round of the previous Presidential election, and in the second round to the success of the candidates in the first round and in the second round of the Presidential election 1994. A similar analysis was made on the European Parliament elections 1999 and the Parliamentary elections 1999.

The background variables under study were as follows:

• Unemployment
• Business structure
• Percentage of pensioners among persons entitled to vote
• Votes cast for parties: Social Democratic Party, Centre Party of Finland, National Coalition Party and Left Alliance
• Degree of urbanisation
• Yes/no votes in EU referendum
• Number of children aged under 7 in total population
• Income level