tulkintavakauden
tulkintavakaus is a term used in Finnish legal practice that means “interpretation period.” The concept refers to a defined window in which a statute, regulation, or other legal text is considered operative while its precise legal meaning is being clarified by judicial or administrative decision‑making. The purpose of a tulkintavakaus is to ensure continuity and stability in the application of the law during the time that ambiguity or uncertainty exists.
The doctrine is rooted in early 20th‑century Finnish jurisprudence and is codified in the Act on the
A typical situation is a newly enacted law containing a clause that interpreters deem vague. The court
Because the tulkintavakaus is a procedural safeguard, it is also employed in administrative law, where government