| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Eduskunta - Riksdagen / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
· Free representation (S. 11 of the Parliament Act)
|
| Start of the mandate |
· When the results are declared. Procedure (S. 9, 90, and 95 of the Electoral Act).
|
| Validation of mandates |
· Validation by the Chancellor of Justice or by Parliament, or, in case of challenge by election appeals, by a court (S. 23 and 24 of the Parliament Act)
· Procedure (S. 23 and 24 of the Parliament Act, S. 3 and 63 of the Procedure of Parliament)
|
| End of the mandate |
· When the results of new elections are declared
|
| Can MPs resign? |
No |
· See 10 (1) of the Parliament Act). Exceptions (S. 10 (1) of the Parliament Act
· Procedure (S. 10 (1) of the Parliament Act, S. 63 of the Procedure of Parliament, S. 88 and 91 (2) of the Electoral Act)
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: Parliament
|
| Can MPs lose their mandate? |
Yes |
(a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter:
- Sentence to imprisonment for certain offences (S. 8 (4) and 17 (2) of the Parliament Act)
- Loss of mandate for not attending sessions of Parliament (S. 17 (1) of the Parliament Act)
- General procedure (S. 63 of the Procedure of Parliament)
(b) Loss of eligibility (S. 8 (1) in connection with S. 7 of the Parliament Act)
(c) Loss of mandate for incompatibilities (S. 8 (2) and 9 of the Parliament Act)
|
| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
· Within Parliament:
1. The Speaker
2. The Deputy Speakers
3. The chairpersons of parliamentary committees
4. The other MPs
· Outside Parliament: the official order of precedence ranks the Speaker in the 2nd position. |
| Indemnities, facilities and services |
· Official passport
· Basic salary (S. 16 (1) and (2) of the Parliament Act): in accordance with years of service
+ Expense Allowance: percentage of basic salary
+ Expense Allowance for the Speaker: FIM 5,000 (ECU 880/USD 1,100) per month
+ Holiday pay (in July): FIM 8,500 to 10,800 (ECU 1,500 to 1,900/USD 1,900 to 2,400) depending on length of service
· No exemption from tax for the basic salary. The Expense Allowance for the Speaker is tax exempt. For the Expense Allowance for regular MPs, see Expense Allowance - Percentage of basic salary.
· Pension scheme (S. 16 (3) of the Parliament Act)
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat
(b) Assistants (see also S. 8 and 9 of the Procedure of Parliament)
(c) Official car for the Speaker
(d) Postal and telephone services
(e) Travel and transport (S. 16 (1) of Parliament Act)
(f) Others
|
| Obligation to declare personal assets |
No |
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability |
· The concept does exist (S. 13 of the Parliament Act; see also S. 57 (3) of the Parliament Act).
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament. (Parliamentary non-accountability applies to words spoken and written by MPs both within and outside Parliament.)
· Derogations: waiver of immunity by Parliament by a majority vote of five-sixths of the votes cast; offence or insult (S. 58 of the Parliament Act, see Discipline).
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins.
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability |
· The concept does exist (S. 14 (1) of the Parliament Act).
· It covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest, from being held in preventive custody, and from being subjected to a travel ban before the charges against them have been taken up for consideration. In other cases, the Speaker shall be immediately informed of the apprehension and detention.
· Derogations: when being caught in flagrante delicto, committing an offence for which the minimum penalty is a period of imprisonment not less than six months, MPs can be apprehended. The Speaker shall be immediately informed (S. 14 of the Parliament Act).
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (S. 14 (1) of the Parliament Act):
- Competent authority: Parliament
|
| EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE |
| Training |
· There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. It consists of familiarisation courses.
· It is provided by the Central Office of Parliament and by parliamentary groups.
· Handbooks of parliamentary procedure:
- Parliamentary Memorandum
|
| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
· It is not compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings and committee meetings. For leave of absence, see S. 64 of the Procedure of Parliament.
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation:
- Plenary sittings: forfeiture of the whole or a part of the salary, loss of mandate (S. 17 (1) of the Parliament Act)
- Committee meetings: forfeiture of the whole or a part of the salary, forfeiture of membership of the committee (S. 51 (3) of the Parliament Act)
· Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties: Parliament
|
| Discipline |
· The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in S. 55 (1) and 58 of the Parliament Act and S. 39 of the Procedure of Parliament.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Call to order (S. 58 of the Parliament Act)
- Warning for irrelevance (S. 39 of the Procedure of Parliament)
- Denial of the floor (S. 58 of the Parliament Act, S. 39 of the Procedure of Parliament)
- Admonition and warning (S. 58 of the Parliament Act)
- Suspension from Parliament (S. 58 of the Parliament Act)
- Bringing of charges against an MP in a court of law (S. 58 of the Parliament Act)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (S. 58 of the Parliament Act): call to order, denial of the floor, admonition and warning, suspension from Parliament, bringing of charges against an MP in a court of law
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (S. 55 (1) of the Parliament Act):
- Call to order, warning for irrelevance, denial of the floor, offence or insult: the Speaker
- Admonition and warning, suspension from Parliament, bringing of charges against an MP in a court of law, offence or insult: Parliament
The admonition and warning are imposed by the Speaker.
· Procedure (S. 58 of the Parliament Act and S. 39 of the Procedure of Parliament)
|
| Code (rules) of conduct |
· This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system. |
| Relations between MPs and pressure group |
· There are no legal provisions in this field. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Mandate module
