Reformed Act on the Sámi Parliament

The aim of the legislative reform is to promote the realisation of Sámi people's right to self-determination and to improve the operating conditions of the linguistic and cultural autonomy of the Sámi and those of the Sámi Parliament. The Government proposes that the President of the Republic approve the amendments to the Act on the Sámi Parliament today. They will enter into force on the 8th of August 2025.

The new Act will replace the Act on the Sámi Parliament of 1995, which has become outdated in many respects and led to interpretation disputes. The reform implements the objective set out in the current Government Programme. The legislative reform is based on the work of the committee chaired by Permanent Secretary Pekka Timonen, and it has been prepared in cooperation with the Sámi Parliament. The Constitutional Law Committee has discussed the proposal thoroughly, and the Board of the Sámi Parliament has unanimously approved the changes made by the Constitutional Law Committee to the proposal. 

Key amendments to the Act on the Sámi Parliament:

• The requirements for inclusion in the electoral roll have been revised. In future, the electoral roll will only determine the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the Sámi Parliament. It will not determine the question of who can be considered a Sámi.
• An autonomous and independent board of review will be the review body of first instance in matters concerning the electoral roll, instead of the Board of the Sámi Parliament.
• The obligation of authorities to negotiate has been clarified.
• To facilitate voting in the elections to the Sámi Parliament, amendments have been made to the timetables and procedures for the elections, among other things. 

Inquiries:
Yrsa Nyman, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Justice, tel. +358 29 515 0293, [email protected]