Finnish People's Delegation
Encyclopedia
The Finnish People's Delegation (Finnish
: Suomen kansanvaltuuskunta) was created by leftists, mostly members of the Social Democratic Party
. Its formation as the government of Finland
was announced in Helsinki's radical opposition newspaper Työmies on January 29, 1918, marking a rebellion against the Finnish Senate
. The People's Delegation served as the government of the Red Guard
in the Finnish Civil War
.
A Supreme Workers' Council was established at February 14, 1918, to be equivalent to Parliament in wielding executive power. The chairman of the Council was equivalent to the Speaker of the Parliament, and served as the Head of State
of Red Finland. The position was filled by the secretary of the Transport Workers Union Valfrid Perttilä.
The Workers' Council had little power because of the chaotic situation during the Civil War. Most decisions were taken by the People's Delegation. The Council ceased operations on April 25, 1918.
Seats on the Supreme Workers' Council were allocated by the People's Delegation as follows:
and Swiss Constitution
and ideas from the French Revolution
. A referendum on the proposal was planned.
and abroad. The proposed Constitution was forgotten.
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
: Suomen kansanvaltuuskunta) was created by leftists, mostly members of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Finland
The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
. Its formation as the government of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
was announced in Helsinki's radical opposition newspaper Työmies on January 29, 1918, marking a rebellion against the Finnish Senate
Finnish Council of State
The Cabinet of Finland is the body that directs the Government of Finland. However, in governmental translations to English, the distinction is often blurred between cabinet and government in the wider sense...
. The People's Delegation served as the government of the Red Guard
Red Guards (Finland)
The Red Guards formed the army of Red Finland during the Finnish Civil War in 1918. The combined strength of the Red Guard was about 30,000 at the beginning of the Civil War, and peaked at 90,000-120,000 during the course of the conflict....
in the Finnish Civil War
Finnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War was a part of the national, political and social turmoil caused by World War I in Europe. The Civil War concerned control and leadership of The Grand Duchy of Finland as it achieved independence from Russia after the October Revolution in Petrograd...
.
A Supreme Workers' Council was established at February 14, 1918, to be equivalent to Parliament in wielding executive power. The chairman of the Council was equivalent to the Speaker of the Parliament, and served as the Head of State
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of Red Finland. The position was filled by the secretary of the Transport Workers Union Valfrid Perttilä.
The Workers' Council had little power because of the chaotic situation during the Civil War. Most decisions were taken by the People's Delegation. The Council ceased operations on April 25, 1918.
Finnish People's Delegation members
- chairman ("prime minister") Kullervo MannerKullervo MannerKullervo Achilles Manner was a Finnish journalist and politician. He was a member of the Finnish parliament, serving as its Speaker in 1917. He was also chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Finland between 1917–1918. During the Finnish Civil War, he led the Finnish People's Delegation...
- delegate for foreign affairs ("foreign minister") Yrjö SirolaYrjö SirolaYrjö Elias Sirola was a Finnish socialist politician, teacher, and newspaper editor...
- delegate for internal affairs ("internal minister") Eero HaapalainenEero HaapalainenEero Haapalainen , was a Finnish Communist leader. He was born in Kuopio, in eastern Finland. His mother, Wilhelmiina, worked in Minna Canth's fabric shop, and his father, Aaro, was a carpenter....
and Adolf TaimiAdolf TaimiAdolf Taimi was a Finnish Communist leader, member of the red government 1918, during the Finnish Civil War, after which he fled to the Russian SFSR. April 15, 1947-1955 he served as the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic.-References:... - delegate for justice ("minister of justice") Lauri LetonmäkiLauri LetonmäkiLauri Letonmäki was a Finnish Communist politician. Letonmäki was Commissar of Justice in the red government during the Finnish Civil War. After the war, Letonmäki fled to the Soviet Union. During the Great Purge he was accused of being a "Trotskyist" and he committed suicide....
and Antti Kiviranta - delegate for education ("minister of education") Otto Wille Kuusinen
- delegate for monetary affairs ("minister of finance") Jalo Kohonen
- delegate for labour ("minister of labour") Johan Erik Lumivuokko
- delegate for agriculture ("ministry of agriculture and forestry") Evert ElorantaEvert ElorantaEvert Eloranta was a Finnish journalist and a communist leader during the Finnish Civil War. He was the Minister of Agriculture of the Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic....
- delegate for provisions ("minister of supply") Oskari TokoiOskari TokoiAntti Oskari Tokoi was a Finnish socialist who served as a leader of the Social Democratic Party of Finland. During the short-lived Revolution of 1918, Tokoi participated as a leading figure in the revolutionary government....
- delegate for transport ("minister of transport") Konstantin Lindqvist
- delegate for posts and information ("minister of communications") Emil Elo
- Procurator ("chancellor of justice") Matti Turkia.
Seats on the Supreme Workers' Council were allocated by the People's Delegation as follows:
- Central Organisation of Labour Unions, 10
- Social Democratic Party of FinlandSocial Democratic Party of FinlandThe Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
, 10 - Red GuardRed Guards (Finland)The Red Guards formed the army of Red Finland during the Finnish Civil War in 1918. The combined strength of the Red Guard was about 30,000 at the beginning of the Civil War, and peaked at 90,000-120,000 during the course of the conflict....
, 10 - HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
Labour Unions, 5
Constitutional proposal
The People's Delegation drew up a new Constitution, taking influences from the United StatesUnited States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
and Swiss Constitution
Swiss Federal Constitution
The Federal Constitution of 18 April 1999 is the third and current federal constitution of Switzerland. It establishes the Swiss Confederation as a federal republic of 26 cantons , contains a catalogue of individual and popular rights , delineates the responsibilities of the...
and ideas from the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. A referendum on the proposal was planned.
End of People's Delegation
After the Civil War the members of the People's Delegation fled to RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and abroad. The proposed Constitution was forgotten.