Republic of Finland
Pre-war: Finland was a constitutional republic with legislative power in the hands of the 200-member parliament. Executive power was shared between the Cabinet, which answered to parliament, and the relatively powerful president, who could veto parliament’s bills and also dissolve it. In addition to the prime minister the government had 18 ministers. Before the war the coalition government consisted of the National Coalition Party, the Social Democrats, the Green League and the Swedish People’s Party of Finland.
The war: The Finnish administrative apparatus survived largely intact despite the nuclear attack on Helsinki. This was mainly due to a good civil defense program and the fact that the nuclear warheads had hit the outskirts of the capital instead of the city center. The collapse happened soon afterwards, however, as the plane carrying the President and the Cabinet crashed with no survivors. Through cooperation between parliament and the military a special Emergency Committee was created, consisting of military personnel and members of parliament. Parliament was dissolved and those former MPs who weren’t admitted to the Emergency Committee were appointed to provincial administrative duties instead. Many MPs originally opposed this arrangement, but they have since largely submitted to Marshal Koivuniemi’s will.
The Republic of Finland is officially still neutral and effectively at war with both NATO and the Warsaw Pact. At the moment it is ready to make peace with both sides on the basis of pre-war borders and relations. The Republic of Finland is officially recognized by both sides.
During the last few years the Emergency Council has done as much as possible to rebuild Finland and restart industrial production. Most Finns are satisfied with the Council’s achievements but political opponents still exist among the former MPs.
Structure: The Emergency Council consists of 15 people, which includes the Chairman. Most of the work is done by individual members together with their aides, while major decisions are decided at Council meetings. Soldiers and various state organizations control a majority of Council seats. Directly under the Emergency Council are the governors, who have direct control over their respective military forces and remaining bureaucracy. Although Koivuniemi runs the country well – considering the circumstances – corruption and black marketeering exists at the gubernatorial level and below.
Leaders: Field Marshal Tuomo Koivuniemi is the Chairman of the Emergency Committee. He is also the Chief of Defence of the Finnish Defence Forces. Other important figures are Juha Louhisuo (head of Supo, the Finnish Security Intelligence Service) and Reijo Kontkanen (head of Alko, responsible for alcohol production as well as traffic).
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