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How Finland became independent

Finland declared its independence on 6 December 1917. The formal Declaration of Independence was only part of the long process leading to the independence of Finland.

Finland declared independence shortly after the Russian Bolshevik Revolution (October Revolution) on December 6, 1917.

As a result of the February Revolution in Russia, Finland has created a new Senate and a coalition cabinet with the same power structure as the previous Finnish Parliament. In the general election of 1916, the Finnish Social Democratic Party won a majority, and its member Oskari Tokoi became prime minister. The new Senate wanted to cooperate with Russia’s interim government, but no agreement was reached. Finland considered its union with Russia to end when the tsar abdicated, although Finns de facto considered the provisional government to be the tsar’s successor and accepted the provisional government’s authority to appoint a new governor and a senate.

The Finns believed that the tsar’s power should be transferred to Finland’s parliament, but the provisional government rejected this view, arguing that the issue should be left to the Russian Constituent Assembly. At this time the Finnish Social Democrats seemed to regard the Russian bourgeoisie as an obstacle to Finnish independence and the road to justice for the proletariat. Non-SPD MPs in the Senate opposed the SPD’s parliamentary plan, known as the Bill of Rights, which they felt was too influential and too drastic.

This act restricted Russian interference in Finland’s internal affairs, but preserved Russian interference in defense and foreign affairs. Even so, it was too radical for Russia’s provisional government. Parliament was dissolved when it was deemed to have exceeded its competence.

Minorities in parliament and the Senate agreed. They believe the new elections will give them a chance to win a majority and make it easier to reach an understanding with Russia. Non-socialist parties were also more inclined to cooperate with the interim government, as they feared the Social Democrats gaining power and their radical reform proposals, such as vote-for-money municipal elections and land reform. On these issues they are opposed to the SPD. The Social Democrats do not believe that the provisional government has the right to dissolve parliament.

The Social Democrats opposed the dissolution of Parliament with a Bill of Rights, while the Non-Social Democrats voted to declare the dissolution of Parliament. A dispute over a bill of powers saw the SPD leave the Senate. After the summer recess, groups supporting the Bill of Powers still gather for parliament.

The Russian army entered the arena to force the dissolution of the parliament and hold new elections. The result of the election was a parliament with a non-socialist majority and a Senate with a non-socialist majority. The suppression of the bill of powers, and the cooperation of the non-socialist parties and Russia, stimulated the socialists, who began to resort to some terrorist activities, including assassinations.

Concerned about developments in Russia, the non-socialist Senate proposed that Parliament declare Finland independent. The independence bill was then passed in Parliament on December 6, 1917.

On the 18th of the same month, the Russian Soviet government issued an order declaring the recognition of Finland’s independence, and on the 22nd of the same month it was approved by the VTsIK, the highest administrative body of the Soviet government. Germany and the Scandinavian countries followed suit by recognizing Finland’s independence.