Yhteisöaloitteita

Yhteisöaloitteita are a form of participatory democracy in Finland that allows citizens to propose new laws or amendments to existing ones. These initiatives can be started by any Finnish citizen. To become a parliamentary matter, an initiative must gather at least 50,000 valid signatures from eligible voters within a six-month period. Once this threshold is met, the initiative is submitted to the Parliament of Finland.

The process involves several stages. First, a group of citizens proposes the initiative and collects signatures. This can be done both online and through physical means. The Ministry of Justice oversees the signature verification process. If the required number of signatures is obtained, the initiative is then sent to the Parliament.

In Parliament, the initiative is treated like any other legislative proposal. It is typically assigned to a relevant parliamentary committee for review and discussion. The committee will hear from the proponents of the initiative, as well as other stakeholders. Following the committee's report, the initiative is debated and voted on by the entire Parliament.

Parliament has the final decision on whether to adopt the proposed law or amendment. It is not obliged to pass the initiative, even if it meets the signature requirement. However, the process ensures that citizen concerns are brought to the legislative agenda and that Parliament must consider them. Yhteisöaloitteita were introduced in 2012 as a way to enhance citizen engagement and democratic participation in Finland.