- Cabinet of Finland
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The Cabinet of Finland (also called the Council of State, Finnish: valtioneuvosto, Swedish: statsrådet; officially rendered Finnish Government) is the body that directs the Government of Finland. However, in governmental translations to English, the distinction is often blurred between cabinet and government in the wider sense. This wider sense includes the Parliament of Finland (on which the cabinet is dependent), the governmental agencies that are directed by the Cabinet, and the independent judicial branch of government. Despite of the occasional blurring by translators, the difference is significant. The Cabinet is directly responsible to the parliament and may be dismissed by a motion of no confidence. The President, according the 2000 constitution, formally appoints the cabinet, but the daily working is the responsibility of the Prime Minister.
In 1918, after Finland's independence, the Cabinet, that in the Grand Duchy of Finland had been called the Senate of Finland, was reorganized and renamed to the Council of State. One of the main objectives of that reform was to separate the judiciary from the executive branch.
According to the recent revision of the Constitution of Finland (as of 2000[update]), the power over foreign affairs is retained by the president, as it also is in France, although with a narrow definition of foreign affairs that excludes influence over preparations of decisions within the European Union. International treaties and declaration of war are within the authority of the parliament.
Matters within the authority of the Cabinet are decided at plenary meetings, with a quorum of five ministers present, in the case of matters of wide importance and matters that are significant for reasons of principle. Less important matters are decided within the respective ministries.
Matters within the authority of the President are decided at plenary meetings of the Cabinet, with the exception of appointments, pardon, and calling of extraordinary elections.
Contents
Formation
After election, the party in plurality has the privilege to appoint a negotiator to form the government. In practice, this person is the leader of the party and becomes the Prime Minister. Since 1972, all cabinets have been formed as coalitions of multiple parties that together constitute a parliamentary majority. In an intense period after elections, the negotiator will attempt to forge a consensus between the participating parties on the issues to be prosecuted during the tenure of the government. This will then be written down in a government platform.
Following from President Urho Kekkonen's excessive direction over the government formation process, the 2000 constitution limited the President's power in government formation. Today, the President only formally appoints the government, but cannot select or remove individual members.
Current Council of State
Main article: Jyrki Katainen's cabinetThe current Council of State, the 72nd since Finland's independence, was inaugurated by President Tarja Halonen on 22 June 2011.[1]
The current Council of State is a right-left, 19-minister coalition consisting of the National Coalition Party (kokoomus), the Social Democratic Party (sosiaalidemokraatit), the Left Alliance (vasemmistoliitto), the Green League (vihreät), the Swedish People's Party (svenska folkpartiet; ruotsalainen kansanpuolue) and the Christian Democrats (kristillisdemokraatit).[1][2]
The Chancellor of Justice is not a member of the Council of State but must by law attend its every meeting.
Previous Senates
Number Senate Term of office Type of government Parties in government Number of MP's 1. Svinhufvud's first senate 27 November 1917 – 27 May 1918 Majority Young Finnish Party, Swedish People's Party, Finnish Party, Agrarian League 103/200 2. Paasikivi's first senate 27 May 1918 – 27 November 1918 Majority Young Finnish Party, Swedish People's Party, Finnish Party, Agrarian League 103/200 Previous Councils of State
Number Government Term of office Type of government Parties in government Number of MP's 1. Ingman's first cabinet 27 November 1918 – 17 April 1919 Majority National Coalition Party, Swedish People's Party, National Progressive Party 77/200 or 77/108 2. K. Castrén's cabinet 17 April 1919 – 15 August 1919 Minority Swedish People's Party, National Progressive Party, Agrarian League 90/200 3. Vennola's first cabinet 15 August 1919 – 15 March 1920 Minority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League 68/200 4. Erich's cabinet 15 March 1920 – 9 April 1921 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, National Coalition Party, Swedish People's Party 118/200 5. Vennola's second cabinet 9 April 1921 – 6 June 1922 Minority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League 68/200 6. Cajander's first cabinet 2 June 1922 – 14 November 1922 caretaker government – – 7. Kallio's first cabinet 14 November 1922 – 18 January 1924 Minority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League 60/200 8. Cajander's second cabinet 18 January 1924 – 31 May 1924 caretaker government – – 9. Ingman's second cabinet 31 May 1924 – 31 March 1925 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, National Coalition Party, Swedish People's Party 122/200 10. Antti Tulenheimo's cabinet 31 March 1925 – 31 December 1925 Minority Agrarian League, National Coalition Party 82/200 11. Kallio's second cabinet 31 December 1925 – 13 December 1926 Minority Agrarian League, National Coalition Party 82/200 12. Tanner's cabinet 13 December 1926 – 17 December 1927 Minority Social Democratic Party 52/100 13. Sunila's first cabinet 17 December 1927 – 22 December 1928 Minority Agrarian League 52/100 14. Mantere's cabinet 22 December 1928 – 16 August 1929 Minority National Progressive Party 10/200 15. Kyösti Kallio's third cabinet 16 August 1929 – 4 July 1930 Majority Agrarian League 60/200 16. Svinhufvud's second cabinet 4 July 1930 – 21 March 1931 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, National Coalition Party, Swedish People's Party 132/200 17. Sunila's second cabinet 21 March 1931 – 14 December 1932 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, National Coalition Party, Swedish People's Party 132/200 18. Kivimäki's cabinet 14 December 1932 – 10 October 1936 Minority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party 85/200 19. Kyösti Kallio's fourth cabinet 7 October 1936 – 12 March 1937 Minority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League 60/200 20. A.Cajander's third cabinet 3 March 1937 – 1 December 1939 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party 164/200 21. Risto Ryti's first cabinet 1 December 1939 – 3 March 1940 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party 165/200 22. Risto Ryti's second cabinet 27 March 1940 – 4 December 1941 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, National Coalition Party 190/200 23. Rangell's cabinet 4 January 1941 – 5 March 1943 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, National Coalition Party Patriotic People's Movement 198/200 24. Edwin Linkomies' cabinet 5 March 1943 – 8 September 1944 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, National Coalition Party 190/200 25. Hackzell's cabinet 8 September 1944 – 21 October 1944 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, National Coalition Party 190/200 26. U. Castrén's cabinet 21 October 1944 – 17 November 1944 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, National Coalition Party 190/200 27. Paasikivi's second cabinet 17 November 1944 – 17 April 1945 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, Finnish People's Democratic League 165/200 28. Paasikivi's third cabinet 17 April 1945 – 26 March 1946 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, Finnish People's Democratic League 171/200 29. Mauno Pekkala's cabinet 26 March 1946 – 29 August 1948 Majority Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, Finnish People's Democratic League 162/200 30. Fagerholm's first cabinet 29 August 1948 – 17 March 1950 Minority Social Democratic Party 54/200 31. Kekkonen's first cabinet 17 March 1950 – 17 January 1951 Minority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party 75/200 32. Urho Kekkonen's second cabinet 17 January 1951 – 20 October 1951 Majority National Progressive Party, Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party 129/200 33. Kekkonen's third cabinet 20 October 1951 – 9 August 1953 Minority Agrarian League, Social Democratic Party, Swedish People's Party 119/200 34. Kekkonen's fourth cabinet 9 August 1953 – 17 November 1953 Minority Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party 66/200 35. Sakari Tuomioja's cabinet 17 November 1953 – 5 May 1954 caretaker government – 53/200 36. Törngren's cabinet 5 May 1954 – 20 October 1954 Majority Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party, Agrarian League 120/200 37. Kekkonen's fifth cabinet 20 October 1954 – 3 March 1956 Majority Agrarian League, Social Democratic Party 107/200 38. Fagerholm's second cabinet 3 March 1956 – 27 May 1957 Majority Agrarian League, Social Democratic Party, Swedish People's Party 120/200 39. Sukselainen's first cabinet 27 April 1957 – 29 November 1957 Minority Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders, Finnish People's Party 79/200 40. Von Fieandt's cabinet 29 November 1957 – 26 April 1958 caretaker government – – 41. Kuuskoski's cabinet 26 April 1958 – 29 September 1958 caretaker government – – 42. Karl-August Fagerholm's third cabinet 29 September 1958 – 13 January 1959 Majority Social Democratic Party, Agrarian League, National Coalition Party, Finnish People's Party, Swedish People's Party 152/200 43. Sukselainen's second cabinet 13 January 1959 – 14 August 1961 Minority Agrarian League, Swedish People's Party 62/200 44. Miettunen's first cabinet 14 August 1961 – 13 April 1962 Minority Agrarian League 48/200 45. Karjalainen's first cabinet 13 April 1962 – 18 December 1963 Majority Agrarian League, Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders, Swedish People's Party, National Coalition Party, Finnish People's Party 114/200 46. Lehto's cabinet 18 December 1963 – 12 October 1964 caretaker government – – 47. Virolainen's Cabinet 12 October 1964 – 27 May 1966 Majority Centre Party, National Coalition Party, Swedish People's Party, Finnish People's Party 112/200 48. Paasio's first cabinet 27 May 1966 – 22 March 1968 Majority Finnish People's Democratic League, Social Democratic Party, Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders, Centre Party 152/200 49. Koivisto's first cabinet 22 March 1968 – 14 May 1970 Majority Social Democratic Party, Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders, Centre Party, Swedish People's Party, Finnish People's Democratic League 164/200 50. Aura's First cabinet 14 May 1970 – 15 August 1970 caretaker government – – 51. Ahti Karjalainen's second cabinet 15 August 1970 – 29 October 1971 Majority Social Democratic Party, Centre Party, Swedish People's Party, Liberals 144/200 52. Aura's second cabinet 29 October 1971 – 23 February 1972 caretaker government – – 53. Paasio's second cabinet 23 February 1972 – 4 October 1972 Minority Social Democratic Party 55/200 54. Sorsa's first cabinet 4 October 1972 – 13 June 1975 Majority Centre Party, Swedish People's Party, Liberals, Social Democratic Party 109/200 55. Liinamaa's cabinet 13 June 1975 – 30 November 1975 caretaker government – – 56. Miettunen's second cabinet 30 November 1975 – 29 October 1976 Majority Finnish People's Democratic League, Centre Party, Swedish People's Party, Liberals, Social Democratic Party 152/200 57. Miettunen's third cabinet 29 October 1976 – 15 May 1977 Minority Centre Party, Swedish People's Party, Liberals 58/200 58. Sorsa's second cabinet 15 May 1977 – 26 May 1979 Majority Finnish People's Democratic League, Swedish People's Party, Liberals, Social Democratic Party, Centre Party 152/200 59. Koivisto's second cabinet 26 May 1979 – 19 February 1982 Majority Finnish People's Democratic League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, Centre Party 133/200 60. Sorsa's third cabinet 19 February 1982 – 6 May 1983 Majority Finnish People's Democratic League, Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, Centre Party 133/200 and 102/200 61. Sorsa's fourth cabinet 6 May 1983 – 30 April 1987 Majority Swedish People's Party, Social Democratic Party, Centre Party, Finnish Rural Party 123/200 62. Holkeri's cabinet 30 April 1987 – 26 April 1991 Majority National Coalition Party, Social Democratic Party, Swedish People's Party, Finnish Rural Party 131/200 63. Aho's cabinet 26 April 1991 – 13 April 1995 Majority Centre Party, National Coalition Party, Swedish People's Party, Christian Democrats 115/200 64. Lipponen's first cabinet 13 April 1995 – 15 April 1999 Majority National Coalition Party, Social Democratic Party, Swedish People's Party, Left Alliance, Green League 145/200 65. Paavo Lipponen's second Cabinet 15 April 1999 – 17 April 2003 Majority National Coalition Party, Social Democratic Party, Swedish People's Party, Left Alliance, Green League (−2002) 140/200 and 129/200 66. Anneli Jäätteenmäki's Cabinet 17 April – 24 June 2003 Majority Centre Party, Social Democratic Party, Swedish People's Party 117/200 67. Matti Vanhanen's first cabinet 24 June 2003 – 19 April 2007 Majority Centre Party, Social Democratic Party, Swedish People's Party 117/200 68. Matti Vanhanen's second cabinet 19 April 2007 – 22 June 2010 Majority Centre Party, National Coalition Party, Green League, Swedish People's Party 126/200 69. Mari Kiviniemi's cabinet 22 June 2010 — 22 June 2011 Majority Centre Party, National Coalition Party, Green League, Swedish People's Party 126/200 70. Jyrki Katainen's cabinet 22 June 2011 — Majority National Coalition Party, Social Democratic Party, Left Alliance, Green League, Swedish People's Party, Christian Democrats 126/200 References
- ^ a b "Jyrki Katainen becomes Prime Minister". Yleisradio. 22 June 2011. http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2011/06/jyrki_katainen_becomes_prime_minister_2679368.html. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- ^ "Eduskunta valitsi Jyrki Kataisen pääministeriksi" (in Finnish). Parliament of Finland. June 22, 2011. http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/pubman/templates/1.htx?id=4216. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
See also
- Council of State
- Minister for Foreign Affairs (Finland)
- Minister of Justice (Finland)
- Minister of Defence (Finland)
- Minister of Finance (Finland)
- Minister of the Interior (Finland)
External links
- The Finnish Government – Official site
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