Sami Parliament of Sweden
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The Sami Parliament of Sweden (Sámediggi in Northern Sami, Sämitigge in Inari Sami, Sää´mte´ǧǧ in Skolt Sami) is the representative body for people of Sami heritage in Sweden. It act as an institution of cultural autonomy for the indigenous Sami people.
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[edit] History
The Sametingslag (1992:1433) established the Swedish Sami Parliament as of 1 January 1993. By law, the first official elections were held on 16 May 1993. Its first session was opened by the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, on 26 August 1993 in Kiruna. It has 31 representatives, who are elected every four years by general vote.
[edit] Responsibilities
Sweden has taken this active part for two reasons:
- to recognise the Sami minority as an indigenous people to distinguish it from other minorities;
- to raise the Sami minority influence which comes into conflict with the European majority democracy system, i.e., the group with the most votes wins.
[edit] Voting system
Sami Parliaments are democratically elected and act as autonomous authorities. In each country, Sami inhabitants have a vote, in addition to the regular elections in each country, to elect representatives to their Sami Parliament if:
- s/he considers himself/herself to be culturally or ethnically Sami, and
- s/he speaks a Sami language, or
- s/he had or has a parent, or grandparent, that speaks or spoke a Sami language
