kansalaisaloitteisiin

Kansalaisaloitteisiin is the Finnish term for citizens' initiatives. It refers to a legislative tool that allows Finnish citizens to propose new laws or amendments to existing ones. A citizens' initiative can be launched by any Finnish citizen aged 18 or over. To be considered by the Finnish Parliament, an initiative must gather at least 50,000 valid signatures from eligible voters within a six-month period.

Once the required number of signatures is collected, the initiative is submitted to the Finnish Parliament. The Parliament then reviews the proposal. If the initiative meets all the formal requirements, it is debated in Parliament. A parliamentary committee will examine the proposal in detail, and there will be a plenary debate. Following the debate, Parliament will vote on whether to adopt the proposed law or amendment.

The process of launching and supporting a citizens' initiative is managed online through a dedicated platform provided by the Ministry of Justice. This platform allows citizens to create, sign, and share initiatives. It also provides information about ongoing initiatives and their progress. The introduction of citizens' initiatives in Finland was a significant democratic reform aimed at increasing citizen participation in the legislative process and providing a direct channel for public input on policy matters. It represents a mechanism for citizens to directly influence law-making.