Election Poll Finland: Results from Kantar TNS on March 13, 2020

According to Kantar TNS, 8 parties are projected to surpass the electoral threshold and enter the Finnish parliament: Perussuomalaiset with 46 representatives, SDP with 36 representatives, Kokoomus with 35 representatives, Vihreä liitto with 26 representatives, Suomen Keskusta with 25 representatives, Vasemmistoliitto with 16 representatives, Svenska folkpartiet with 9 representatives and Kristillisdemokraatit with 7 representatives.

The Finnish Parliament (Eduskunta) comprises 200 members elected for a four-year term. The country is divided into 13 electoral districts. Finland employs a system of proportional representation with open lists: voters must cast their ballot for a specific candidate, not just a party. The total votes for all candidates of a party determine that party's seat allocation, while individual candidate votes decide who from the list enters Parliament. An exception is Åland, which holds one fixed seat in the Eduskunta.

Unlike many other European nations, Finland does not impose a statutory percentage electoral threshold (e.g., a 5% hurdle) at the national level. Instead, the effective threshold for entering Parliament stems from the number of seats in each electoral district – known as the 'natural quorum'. In multi-seat districts like Helsinki, smaller parties find it easier to secure a mandate than in smaller constituencies. This system fosters a diverse party landscape within the Eduskunta.

As no single party in Finland typically secures an absolute majority, coalition governments are the norm. These often comprise four or more parties to ensure a stable parliamentary majority. Following an election, the leader of the largest party spearheads government formation negotiations. A defining feature is the detailed government program, which serves as a binding operational framework for the entire legislative term. Once formed, the government must be confirmed by the Eduskunta through the election of the Prime Minister.