Finnish parliamentary election, 1966

Parliamentary elections were held in Finland on 20 and 21 March 1966.^[1]

Background

Centrist Prime Minister Johannes Virolainen had led a centre-right coalition government since September 1964. Meanwhile, the Social Democratic leader Rafael Paasio had moved the party somewhat more to the left, in order to attract back voters from the Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders (TPSL). Finnish society was undergoing radical criticism of the traditional values - Christianity, marriage, parents' authority over their children, teachers' authority over their students, patriotism and civil servants' (including judges') authority over the private citizens. The Social Democrats and the Communists tapped into this discontent at the expense of the centre-right parties. At the same time, leading Social Democrats, such as former Social Affairs and Interior Minister Väinö Leskinen, had promised to loyally support President Kekkonen's foreign policy towards the Soviet Union, and his continuance as President. Although the Communists performed quite well in the election, they lost six seats to the Social Democratic opposition, which formed an electoral alliance with the Communists. After the election, Rafael Paasio formed a "popular front" government of the Social Democrats, Centrists, Communists and Social Democratic opposition in May 1966.^[2][3]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Social Democratic Party	645,339	27.2	55	+17
Centre Party	503,047	21.2	49	–4
Finnish People's Democratic League	502,374	21.1	41	–6
National Coalition Party	326,928	13.8	26	–6
Liberal People's Party	153,259	6.5	9	–5
Swedish People's Party	134,832	5.7	11	–2
Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders	61,274	2.6	7	+5
Smallholders' Party	24,351	1.0	1	+1
Finnish Christian League	10,646	0.4	0	New
Åland Coalition	7,118	0.3	1	0
Independence Party	513	0.0	0	New
Christian Women of Western Finland	124	0.0	0	New
Christian-minded of Northern Savonia	30	0.0	0	New
Others	51	0.0	0	–
Write-in lists	161	0.0	0	–
Invalid/blank votes	8,537	–	–	–
Total	2,378,583	100	200	0
Registered voters/turnout	2,800,461	84.9	–	–
Source: Tilastokeskus 2004[4]

Popular vote
SDP			27.23%
KESK			21.23%
SKDL			21.20%
KOK			13.79%
LKP			6.47%
RKP			5.69%
TPSL			2.59%
SPP			1.03%
Others			0.79%

Parliament seats
SDP			27.50%
KESK			24.50%
SKDL			20.50%
KOK			13.00%
RKP			5.50%
LKP			4.50%
TPSL			3.50%
SPP			0.50%
Others			0.50%

References

1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p606 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. Seppo Zetterberg et al (2003) A Small Giant of the Finnish History, WSOY
3. Allan Tiitta and Seppo Zetterberg (1992) Finland Through the Ages, Reader's Digest
4. 595. Eduskuntavaalit 1927–2003 (Tilastokeskus 2004)