Finland's Laws: Universal Or Selective Application?

Finland is a country governed by the rule of law, where everyone, including foreigners, has equal rights and obligations. These rights include freedom of expression, privacy, and religion, and the right to equal treatment and freedom of movement. The Finnish Constitution, approved in 1919 and rewritten in 2000, is the most important piece of legislation and has supreme authority. Finnish law is based on the civil law tradition, with written laws as the highest source of law, although customary law also exists and is influential in some areas. As a member of the European Union, EU law is also in force in Finland, and the country implements EU directives in its national legislation.

Finnish laws apply to everyone, including foreigners living in Finland

Finnish laws apply to everyone living in Finland, including foreigners. The Constitution (perustuslaki) is the most important piece of legislation in Finland, and all persons living in Finland must adhere to Finnish laws.

Equality, religious freedom, freedom of expression, and many other rights apply to everyone, including foreigners living in Finland. Everyone has the right to equal treatment and freedom of expression. No one can be discriminated against based on gender, age, religion, or disability, for example. Everyone also has the right to privacy, and the freedom to choose their own religion or none at all.

In addition, everyone living in Finland has the right to freely express their opinions verbally or in writing, and to assemble and demonstrate, provided the police are notified in advance. No one can be sentenced to death or tortured, and everyone can choose their place of residence and move freely within the country.

Furthermore, even if someone is not a Finnish citizen, they may have the right to vote in some elections. All those working in Finland are also required to pay taxes on their salary. Everyone is also obligated to testify in court if summoned and to lend aid in the event of an accident.

The Constitution is the most important legislation in Finland

Finland's society and its workings are governed by laws that apply to everyone in the country, including foreigners. The most important of these laws is the Constitution (perustuslaki).

The Constitution is the supreme source of national law in Finland. It is the basis of all legislation and the exercise of government power. It details the fundamental rules, values, and principles of Finnish democracy. The Constitution also specifies the foundations of the relationship between the individual and the government. It lays out the basic rights of Finnish residents and the operations of the Finnish state.

The Constitution of Finland entered into force on March 1, 2000. The current draft of the Constitution came into force after the previous constitutional provisions, which were divided between four separate statutes, were merged into a single statute. The Constitution establishes a government under a parliamentary system, with a directly elected President of the Republic and a Government comprising the Prime Minister and the Ministers.

The Constitution also provides for the Parliament of Finland, an independent judiciary, and two judicial systems: one general and the other administrative. It defines the basis, structure, and organization of the government, as well as the relationship between the different constitutional organs, and lays out the fundamental rights of Finnish citizens and individuals in general.

All persons living or residing in Finland must adhere to Finnish legislation. This includes rights and obligations that apply to both Finnish citizens and foreigners living in the country. These rights include the right to equal treatment, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the right to privacy, among others.

Finland's laws are based on the civil law tradition

Finland's legal and political system is based on the rule of law, which is enshrined in the Constitution of Finland. This means that all public authorities must act within the limits set by law, respect democracy and fundamental rights, and are subject to the supervision of independent and impartial courts of law. The rule of law is also reflected in the fair, effective, and transparent drafting, enactment, and implementation of legislation in Finland.

Finnish society and its workings are governed by laws. All persons living or residing in Finland, including foreigners, must adhere to Finnish legislation. This includes the rights to equal treatment, freedom of expression, privacy, freedom of religion, and freedom of movement. Finnish law also provides for the protection of children and consumers.

Finland's laws are influenced by its membership in the European Union, and EU law is in force in the country. Finland implements EU directives in its national legislation, and the Court of Justice of the European Union is the ultimate authority in matters within the competence of the EU.

Equality, religious freedom, freedom of expression, and many other rights apply to everyone

Finland's Constitution (perustuslaki) is the most important piece of legislation in the country. All persons living in Finland, including foreigners, must adhere to Finnish legislation.

Equality

Everyone has the right to equal treatment. No one can be treated differently based on gender, age, religion, disability, or other factors. The Equality Act (tasa-arvolaki) specifically prohibits discrimination based on gender, and authorities, employers, and educational institutes must promote equality between men and women.

Religious Freedom

Everyone has the right to freely choose their religion or to not follow any religion. The Constitution prohibits religious discrimination "without an acceptable reason" and provides for the right to profess and practice a religion, as well as the right to decline to be a member of a religious community. The law also prohibits blasphemy and disturbing worship or funeral ceremonies.

Freedom of Expression

Everyone has the right to freely express their opinions verbally or in writing. People are allowed to hold and participate in meetings and demonstrations, provided that the police are notified in advance.

Finland implements EU directives in its national legislation

Finland's laws apply to everyone living or residing in the country. This includes Finnish citizens and foreigners. Finland's Constitution is the most important piece of legislation and is the basis for Finnish society and its workings.

As a member of the European Union, Finland is obligated to promptly introduce EU Directives into Finnish legislation. EU Directives are binding on Member States, and while they are not directly applicable, they must be transposed into national law before they can be applied in each Member State. Finland's prompt implementation of EU Directives has been positive between 2012 and 2015, with the number of infringement proceedings decreasing during this period. However, the number of proceedings increased again in 2016, and the ratio of infringement proceedings to implemented directives has been increasing in recent years.

The Finnish government has a responsibility to transpose EU Directives into national law, and the Finnish Parliament plays a crucial role in this process. The Constitutional Law Committee of the Parliament reviews legislative proposals, including those for EU legislation, to ensure compatibility with the Constitution and Finland's international human rights obligations. This ex ante constitutional review is a key aspect of Finland's approach to implementing EU directives.

The Finnish government proposals must describe the national margin of manoeuvre offered by the directive and any additional national regulations proposed. However, in some cases, the government proposals do not sufficiently clarify which national provisions are based on EU obligations and which are based on purely national needs, impacting the openness of law drafting.

The efficient implementation of EU legislation in Finland also involves centralised monitoring, led by the Government Secretariat for EU Affairs. This centralised approach helps minimise the risk of financial sanctions and other risks caused by delays in implementation.

Overall, Finland's implementation of EU directives in its national legislation is a complex process involving the government, Parliament, and centralised monitoring bodies. The country has made progress in prompt implementation, but there are still areas for improvement to avoid legal uncertainty and minimise the risk of financial sanctions.

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