1917 Finnish parliamentary election

General election Finland 1809 parliamentary 1916 Finnish parliamentary election 1916 1919 Finnish parliamentary election 1919 All 200 seats in the Parliament of Finland 101 1–2 October 1917 KullervoManner.jpg Kullervo Manner Social Democratic Party of Finland 47.29%, 103 seats 92 444,670 44.79% 2.50pp Finnish–Young Finnish–People's 29.99%, 56 seats 61 299,516 30.17% 5 0.18pp Filip Saalasti (cropped).jpg Filip Saalasti Agrarian League (Finland) 9.00%, 19 seats 26 122,900 12.38% 7 3.38pp 3x4.svg Eric von Rettig Swedish People's Party of Finland 11.76%, 21 seats 21 108,190 10.90% 0.86pp 11 Parliamentary elections were held in the Grand Duchy of Finland on 1 and 2 October 1917. The general voter turnout was higher than in previous elections. The Social Democrats lost the absolute majority that they had had in the previous two elections (although they, like the other parties, had increased their number of votes in absolute terms). In other words, the "bourgeois" (non-socialist) parties taken together now had more than half the seats. Background The elections were the result of the constitutional crisis in Finland caused by the Russian revolution. As Russian Tsar Nicholas, head of state in Finland, had abdicated without a successor, the Finnish Parliament stated that it would become the highest power in internal matters. The Russian Provisional Government did not accept this, but ordered premature parliamentary elections, which was thought illegal by the Socialists. Campaign The Social Democrats demanded the quick implementation of eight-hour work day and the quick freeing of tenant farmers. The bourgeois parties, on average, wanted first to ensure that Finland would become fully independent, and only then to implement such social and economic reforms.Seppo Zetterberg et al (2003) A Small Giant of the Finnish History WSOYAllan Tiitta and Seppo Zetterberg (1992) Finland Through the Ages Reader's Digest Results File:1917 Eduskunta.svg Social Democratic Party 444670 92 –11 Finnish Party–Young Finnish Party–People's Party 299516 61 +5 Agrarian League 122900 26 +7 Swedish People's Party 108190 21 0 Christian Workers' Union 15489 0 –1 Others 1997 0 – 0 4903 1441075 Mackie & RoseThomas T. Mackie & Richard Rose (1991) The International Almanac of Electoral History, Macmillan, p243 (vote figures) References Category:Parliamentary elections in Finland Parliament Finland