Finnish presidential election, 1994

Finnish presidential election, 1994
16 January and 6 February 1994

 
Nominee Martti Ahtisaari Elisabeth Rehn
Party Social Democratic Swedish People's
Popular vote 1,723,485 1,476,294
Percentage 53.86% 46.14%
President before election

Mauno Koivisto
Social Democratic

 Elected President

Martti Ahtisaari
Social Democratic

First round results by province
  Martti Ahtisaari
  Elisabeth Rehn
   Paavo Väyrynen
  Keijo Korhonen
Second round results by province
  Martti Ahtisaari
  Elisabeth Rehn

Presidential elections were held in Finland on 16 January 1994, with a second round on 6 February.[1]

It was the first time the President had been solely elected by a popular vote and saw Martti Ahtisaari defeat Elisabeth Rehn in the second round. Voter turnout was 78.4% in the first round and 78.7% in the second.[2] This was an open presidential election, because the two-term Finnish President, Mauno Koivisto, had refused to seek a third term. His popularity had also clearly declined since Finland entered into a deep economic recession in 1991.

Martti Ahtisaari, a former primary school teacher and a long-time United Nations diplomat, emerged as the frontrunner after winning the Social Democratic presidential primary in the spring of 1993. Having lived abroad for many years during his diplomatic career, he was at first largely unknown to most Finnish voters. On the other hand, he appeared not to be tainted with political scandals or allegations of opportunism, contrary to some of his opponents, especially the Centre Party presidential candidate, Paavo Väyrynen. This was also the first Finnish presidential election to include a popular female candidate. Elisabeth Rehn, the small Swedish People's Party's presidential candidate, appealed to voters through her reputation as a diligent, caring and sincere woman. She was serving as Defence Minister during the election.

Rehn's popularity rose dramatically in early January 1994, helping her defeat her two major bourgeois rivals, Väyrynen and the National Coalition candidate, Raimo Ilaskivi. Väyrynen bitterly blamed the media for scheming to make his support appear to be falling just before the first round of voting. Some Finns voted tactically for Rehn on the first round to eliminate Väyrynen from the second round. Ahtisaari and Rehn agreed on many issues, such as Finland's intention to become a member of the European Union. They disagreed partly on economic issues, with Ahtisaari favouring more economic stimulation and Rehn viewing increased economic stimulus sceptically. The three-week period between the first and second rounds of voting saw Ahtisaari's support rise significantly, and during the final week of campaigning opinion polls showed him leading Rehn.[3][4][5][6]

Results

Candidate Party First round Second round
Votes % Votes %
Martti AhtisaariSocial Democratic Party828,03825.91,722,31353.9
Elisabeth RehnSwedish People's Party702,21122.01,475,85646.1
Paavo VäyrynenCentre Party623,41519.5
Raimo IlaskiviNational Coalition Party485,03515.2
Keijo KorhonenIndependent186,9365.8
Claes AnderssonLeft Alliance122,8203.8
Pertti VirtanenIndependent95,6503.0
Eeva KuuskoskiIndependent82,4532.6
Toimi KankaanniemiChristian Democrats31,4531.0
Sulo AittoniemiFinnish Rural Party30,6221.0
Pekka TiainenIndependent7,3200.2
Invalid/blank votes8,578–14,982–
Total3,204,5311003,214,761100
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

By province

First round

Province Martti Ahtisaari Elisabeth Rehn Paavo Väyrynen Raimo Ilaskivi Keijo Korhonen Claes Andersson Pertti Virtanen Eeva Kuuskoski Toimi Kankaanniemi Sulo Aittoniemi Pekka Tiainen Electorate Votes Valid votes Invalid votes
Southern Savonia30,50417,13529,49914,8685,7721,7432,7612,7691,6711,002116135,687108,155107,840315
Northern Savonia38,03727,17644,20116,95013,9505,4963,8434,6391,7171,495316199,494158,201157,820381
North Karelia31,99014,25025,27413,78110,0251,8742,8863,4151,6011,089181136,007106,645106,366279
Kainuu7,8244,65913,8574,03924,0562,5019811,10537724716172,98259,95759,807150
Uusimaa202,936243,11957,044140,85026,16531,38223,52017,5274,5924,2841,735903,287754,803753,1541,649
Eastern Uusimaa13,17724,5615,3585,7061,5181,3321,34487433531411565,49754,71254,63478
Southwest Finland73,46856,59544,45449,35513,07712,2128,33610,8031,8642,665950333,960274,512273,779733
Tavastia Proper33,32118,84115,91919,7294,8013,5003,6312,4521,0361,376230127,679105,206104,836370
Päijänne Tavastia35,01426,66717,54623,7566,0873,9923,8862,8231,5331,395278154,166123,328122,977351
Kymenlaakso40,34525,76619,48419,6275,2262,9314,4322,6881,1481,204175152,635123,379123,026353
South Karelia27,75915,97220,03513,9613,9641,4392,8552,0851,11383697110,68790,41890,116302
Central Finland46,26522,41740,02617,14711,1206,9625,2545,0493,5991,542242197,538160,106159,623483
Southern Ostrobothnia19,69012,20955,28121,3127,1032,3963,7042,4012,0551,545185152,638128,185127,881304
Ostrobothnia20,40353,42815,7929,5062,6253,4091,9251,5421,135413143131,449110,572110,321251
Satakunta45,67822,24531,36626,5909,1138,4514,7443,7721,7912,085321191,434156,661156,156505
Pirkanmaa75,41052,24336,61150,50815,93314,54711,4607,2602,9165,714982333,374274,420273,584836
Central Ostrobothnia7,9418,25017,0174,0452,8581,4151,2788896195855252,89445,08144,949132
Northern Ostrobothnia43,99026,72576,27819,98716,6379,2745,6585,9841,4271,835493252,472208,853208,288565
Lapland 26,54312,85654,86210,1776,2007,1742,8063,543674839474151,563126,563126,148415
Åland Islands1,41210,4598621484910816805914618,88513,27013,21357
Source: European Election Database

Second round

Province Martti Ahtisaari Elisabeth Rehn Electorate Votes Valid votes Invalid votes
Southern Savonia56,90450,551135,687107,966107,455511
Northern Savonia85,21872,608199,494158,527157,826701
North Karelia61,23945,910136,007107,648107,149499
Kainuu31,19024,94472,98256,52156,134387
Uusimaa405,872350,232903,287759,479756,1043,375
Eastern Uusimaa24,44530,79565,49755,40955,240169
Southwest Finland156,749118,022333,960276,025274,7711,254
Tavastia Proper61,19344,596127,679106,316105,789527
Päijänne Tavastia71,54652,574154,166124,720124,120600
Kymenlaakso74,89850,008152,635125,440124,906534
South Karelia50,66739,902110,68791,00890,569439
Central Finland93,63765,665197,538160,106159,302804
Southern Ostrobothnia46,70676,407152,638123,899123,113786
Ostrobothnia41,26571,028131,449112,656112,293363
Satakunta94,84462,493191,434158,070157,337733
Pirkanmaa164,619109,400333,374275,349274,0191,330
Central Ostrobothnia18,14425,97752,89444,33244,121211
Northern Ostrobothnia104,482101,687252,472207,109206,169940
Lapland67,19655,695151,563123,570122,891679
Åland Islands2,53111,45018,88414,02813,98147
Source: European Election Database

References

  1. ↑ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p606 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver, p632
  3. ↑ Timo Vihavainen, "The Welfare Finland" (Hyvinvointi-Suomi), pgs. 902-903 in Seppo Zetterberg et al., eds., A Small Giant of the Finnish History / Suomen historian pikkujättiläinen. Helsinki: WSOY, 2003
  4. ↑ Olavi Jouslehto&Jaakko Okker, From Tamminiemi To Mäntyniemi (Tamminiemestä Mäntyniemeen), pgs. 140-155. Porvoo: WSOY, 2000
  5. ↑ Tapani Ruokanen, On a Journey: Martti Ahtisaari's Story / Matkalla. Martti Ahtisaaren tarina. Helsinki: Otava Ltd., 2009, pgs. 182-191, 197-200, 204-205, 247-256
  6. ↑ What-Where-When: A Citizen's Yearbook (Mitä-Missä-Milloin - Kansalaisen vuosikirja) 1994 and 1995. Helsinki: Otava Ltd., 1993 and 1994
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