Language/Finnish/Vocabulary/Politics-and-Government
As a Finnish language teacher with 20 years of experience, I believe that having a dictionary of political parties and governmental terms is essential for anyone interested in Finnish politics. Knowing the vocabulary will help you understand the complex world of politics in Finland and enable you to discuss and debate with other Finnish speakers. In this lesson, we will explore some of the key terms related to the Finnish government and politics.
Political Parties
There are several political parties in Finland, each with their own ideologies and agendas. Here are some of the major political parties in Finland:
| Finnish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Perussuomalaiset | [ˈperusˌsuomalaiset] | True Finns |
| Kansallinen Kokoomus | [kɑnˈsɑlːinen ˈkokomus] | National Coalition Party |
| Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue | [ˈsuomen ˈsosialiˌdemokrɑttinen ˈpuoluːe] | Social Democratic Party of Finland |
| Suomen Keskusta | [ˈsuomen ˈkeskusˌtɑ] | Center Party of Finland |
| Vihreä liitto | [ˈʋihreː ˈliːtto] | Green League |
| Vasemmistoliitto | [ˈʋɑsemːistoˌlitto] | Left Alliance |
Note: The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is used to indicate the correct pronunciation of Finnish words.
It is essential to understand political parties' ideology to engage in a political conversation. Here is a brief overview of each of the political parties mentioned above:
- Perussuomalaiset: Often described as a populist, nationalist, and Eurosceptic party, in recent years, they've moderated their approach somewhat.
- Kansallinen Kokoomus: This party is Center-right and usually associated with free-market economics, low taxes, and a strong national defense.
- Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue: This party represents the Center-left in Finnish politics and believes in social democracy and the welfare state.
- Suomen Keskusta: A Center parties that strive for rural values and liberal economics in the Finnish national context.
- Vihreä liitto: This party is pro-environment and often connected with a more progressive social agenda.
- Vasemmistoliitto: A Left-leaning party which considers itself representative of the Leftist organizations and Trade Unions.
Governmental Terms
Understanding Finnish government and politics also requires knowledge of some essential terms, organizations, and titles. Here are a few of the key terms with definitions in English:
- Hallitus: Cabinet or government
- Eduskunta: Parliament or the legislative branch
- Tasavallan Presidentti: President of the Republic, currently Sauli Niinistö.
- Pääministeri: Prime Minister of Finland, currently Sanna Marin.
- Ministeri: Minister or an appointed member of the cabinet, equivalent to a secretary at the federal level.
- Kansanedustaja: Member of Parliament
- Political Vocabulary
- Äänestys: Voting
- Enemmistö: Majority
- Vähemmistö: Minority
- Vaalipiiri: Electoral district
- Ehdokas: Candidate
- Vaalit: Elections
Knowing these terms will provide you with a better understanding of Finnish politics in general.
Conclusion
Even though learning about politics and government in Finland might seem daunting, it's essential to understand these terms, organizations, and titles. It will broaden your knowledge of Finnish society and help you navigate political discussions in the future.
Do not hesitate to review each vocabulary or party to deepen your understanding of the topics. Finnish politics is a topic of interest for locals and foreigners alike, and by engaging in political discussions, it will provide you with insight into Finnish society.
- Sources
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