Eduskunta

Luckily Finland has a substantial paper industry: Winter 2010

A couple of weeks ago we did one of those touristy things you never seem to do when living in you home country/city.  In this case visiting Suomen eduskuntatalo - Finland's parliament building.



Finland's parliament is unicameral i.e has only one 'house' of 200 members, unlike say the UK parliament which is bicameral having a lower house of 650 MPs (or 'Commons') and an upper house of 741 Peers (or 'Lords').  The UK parliament is older, bigger and more complicated than Finland's (and some would argue more antiquated) but it seems politicians (and Prime Ministers) are much the same everywhere.  Finland's Parliament was also the first in the world to have female MP's as well as being one of the first (after New Zealand) to give women the vote. There is lots more info in english ja suomeksi on Wikipedia.

The bigger, older and more complicated labeling certainly applies to the buildings as well as the institutions.  Siren's externally restrained, austere (and perhaps dull and lumpen in my mind) grey neo-classical box (built 1926-31) is a far cry from Barry and Pugin's explosion of perpendicular gothic for the Palace of Westminster (built between 1840-70).  The interiors are somewhat richer with it's polished marble and grand staircases, but also included all the latest 20's technology, efficiancy and thinking - with electric vote indicators and paternoster lifts, and non-confrontational horseshoe debating chamber.

As impressive as the debating chamber, and grand state hall are, the undoubted centre of power is the 'canteen' where MPs make deals under the polished green ceiling with kahvi ja pulla.




Maybe I should visit Westminster Palace one day...