Government convenes for a historic public session as part of the Parliament of the Future event

The Parliament of the Future is an event that brings together citizens, decision-makers and experts for a meeting in Porvoo on 4 May to discuss new forms of democratic and civic engagement in continuation to Finland’s 100 years of democratic government.

History will be made in Porvoo when the Government of Finland convenes for a plenary session and discussions for the first time in front of a live audience. The session of the Ministerial Finance Committee and the government plenary session will be followed by Government discussions on the theme of how to develop Finnish democracy further.

What would the political party map of Finland look like if it were drawn now? How should democracy’s operating system be upgraded? Where are political start-ups? A total of 500 citizens intersted in new forms of the democratic process and current political decision-makers will convene in the Parliament of the Future in Porvoo to address these issues. Valuable inputs will be provided by international keynote speakers.

The event will trace the roots of Finnish representatie democracy: Finland’s first Parliament called the Diet, in which people were represented by estates, was held in Porvoo in March 1809. By the time of the first parliamentary elections in 1907 after the Diet, the estates had been replaced by parties as the form of political representation.

As part of the centennial celebration of Finland’s independence, we will convene for the Parliament of the Future at Porvoon Taidetehdas on 4 May to start the deliberations. What we may look forward to in Porvoo are great issues, inspiring answers and at least an open debate.

Inquiries: Director of Government Communications Markku Mantila, tel. +358 (0)50 462 6435, Prime Minister’s Office