Parliamentary elections were held in Finland on 17 March 1991, the first time a Finnish parliamentary election had been held on a single day.^[1] For the first time since 1962 the Social Democratic Party was displaced as the largest party in the Eduskunta, with the Centre Party winning 55 seats and forming the first centre-right, non-social democratic government since 1964,^[2] with Esko Aho as Prime Minister.

Quick Facts All 200 seats in the Parliament of Finland 101 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

1991 Finnish parliamentary election

← 1987 17 March 1991 1995 →
All 200 seats in the Parliament of Finland 101 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Esko Aho Pertti Paasio Ilkka Suominen Party Centre SDP National Coalition Last election 17.62%, 40 seats 24.14%, 56 seats 23.13%, 53 seats Seats won 55 48 40 Seat change 15 8 13 Popular vote 676,717 603,080 526,487 Percentage 24.83% 22.12% 19.31% Swing 7.21pp 2.02pp 3.82pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Claes Andersson Ole Norrback Heidi Hautala Party Left Alliance RKP Green Last election 13.63%, 20 seats 5.30%, 12 seats 4.03%, 4 seats Seats won 19 11 10 Seat change 1 1 6 Popular vote 274,639 149,476 185,894 Percentage 10.08% 5.48% 6.82% Swing 3.55pp 0.18pp 2.79pp   Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party   Leader Toimi Kankaanniemi Heikki Riihijärvi Kaarina Koivistoinen Party Christian League Rural Party Liberal People's Last election 2.58%, 5 seats 6.32%, 9 seats 0.97%, 0 seats Seats won 8 7 1 Seat change 3 2 1 Popular vote 83,151 132,133 21,210 Percentage 3.05% 4.85% 0.78% Swing 0.47pp 1.47pp 0.19pp
Prime Minister before election Harri Holkeri National Coalition Prime Minister after election Esko Aho Centre

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The new center-right coalition government would not have an easy time governing the country. The fall of the Soviet Union caused a collapse in trade with the east, which together with a worldwide recession, caused major economic problems including high unemployment and ballooning budget deficits. In response, the government adopted strict austerity measures, such as cuts in public spending, the unpopularity of which led to the government's defeat in the 1995 elections.