100 Years of the Finnish Constitution

Three partially overlapping circles, symbolising the democratic separation of powers. The country abbreviation "FI" and the mint mark appear below the design, with the year of issue "2019" to the left.

As one of the earliest examples of a modern parliamentary democracy in Northern Europe, the Finnish Constitution of 1919 came into force at a historically extraordinary moment. Following the declaration of independence in 1917 and the bloody civil war of the following year, Finland faced the task of establishing a viable state order. The adopted constitution established a republican form of government, enshrined the separation of powers among parliament, government and judiciary, and thereby created the institutional foundation on which the Finnish rule of law still rests today. The constitution strengthened parliament vis-à-vis a powerful president, reflecting the political debates of an era in which Europe was realigning itself between democratic and authoritarian models.

The significance of this document for Finland extends far beyond the context of its creation. The founding principles of 1919 - the rule of law, civil rights and democratic legitimacy - remained formative for decades, even after Finland enacted a completely revised constitution in 1999. Internationally, the Finnish model is seen as evidence of how a young democracy can build stable institutions under difficult conditions. To mark the centenary of the Finnish Constitution, Finland issued a 2-euro commemorative coin in 2019, honouring this founding moment of the modern Finnish state.