The Swedish Assembly of Finland ( Swedish : Svenska Finlands folkting , Finnish : Suomenruotsalaiset kansankäräjät , although often referred to as Folktinget even in Finnish) is an official consultative parliament representing the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland .
5-497: Folktinget was originally founded in 1919 but dissolved the following year. It was re-established in 1941 when the relocation of Karelian evacuees threatened to shift the balance between Finnish and Swedish speakers in Swedish-speaking municipalities, and has functioned continuously since its re-establishment. Since 2003, its operations have been governed by law. Elections are held every four years, and candidates are nominated by
10-530: The Winter War , Finland ceded a portion of Finnish Karelia along with other territories to the Soviet Union . As a result, about 410,000 people, or 12% of Finland's population, were relocated to the remaining parts of Finland. The treaty did not require Finland to empty the ceded territory, but few were willing to stay, and almost the whole population chose to relocate, taking their belongings with them. Only
15-546: The political parties which are either bilingual or Swedish-speaking. The assembly has 75 seats, where 70 are filled on the basis of municipal election results, and five are appointed by the Parliament of Åland ( Swedish : Lagtinget ). The assembly is a forum for political discussion on issues concerning Swedish speakers, and it also functions as an interest group for the Swedish-speaking population. It also engages in research on demographic issues and publishes information to
20-611: The buildings and machinery were to be left behind intact as per the Peace Treaty, which for the most part also took place. During the Continuation War , some 260,000 of the displaced population returned home. In June 1944, Finnish troops partially withdrew from the ceded areas again as a result of the Soviet Fourth strategic offensive . Simultaneously, the population was again evacuated. The Paris Peace Treaty finally confirmed
25-558: The public about the situation of the Swedish-speaking Finns. Astrid Thors was chairperson of the Swedish Assembly of Finland from 2005 to 2007. She was succeeded by Ulla-Maj Wideroos in 2007, by Anna-Maja Henriksson in 2009, by Christina Gestrin in 2011, by Thomas Blomqvist in 2015 and by Sandra Bergqvist in 2019. Evacuation of Finnish Karelia As a result of the 1940 Moscow Peace Treaty that concluded
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