Suomen hallitusmuodon toimivuus:

valtiotieteilijän näkökulma

Authors

• Jaakko Nousiainen

Abstract

The article examines the capability of the Finnish constitutional order from the empirical point of view and with an emphasis on the relationships between the highest state organs. For seventy-five years Finland has practised a »mixed» constitution in which two seemingly incompatible regimes have been superimposed: the Western European parliamentary system and a strong portion of presidentialism. In Finnish circumstances the constitution is highly visible and effective, but at the same time it is a very flexible collection of legal norms. The loose provisions included in it have been read alternatively through presidential or parliamentary glasses without any major problems of constitutional interpretation. So the political system has kept wavering from one side to the other, still preserving its two-headed configuration. The lesson of the Finnish experience is, however, that the satisfactory performance of a mixed system presupposes a congruence of the constitutional order, the party system and the political culture. This mode of regime has its risks in conditions which lack established rules of the game as well as a strong »democratic pathos». In unconsolidated systems personified charismatic leadership has a strong appeal, and there is a hazard of a permanent loss of balance.