The next presidential election will be held in January-February 2000. The prime minister is Mr. Paavo Lipponen, leader of the Social Democrats. The same coalition, also under Mr. Lipponen, held office during the previous parliament as well. Women hold 8 of the 18 cabinet posts, i.a. Local government in the 452 municipalities is run by elected councils with extensive powers, including the right to levy income tax.
Local authorities provide the bulk of public services in education, health care and social services.
Finland is a member of the EU and of EMU, UN and its specialized agencies, OECD, World Bank, IMF, WTO and the Council of Europe. Finland has an area of ca. The capital, Helsinki, with a metropolitan area population of ca. The dominant language is Finnish, although Swedish also has official status, it is the mother tongue of some 6 per cent of the population. English is the most widely spoken foreign language, followed by German.