President of Finland

The president of the Republic of Finland is the head of state of Finland. The current president is Alexander Stubb, who began his term on 1 March 2024. Presidents in Finland are chosen by voters for a six-year term, and since 1994, no one may serve more than two terms in a row. To be president, a person must be a natural-born Finnish citizen.

The role of president was created in the Constitution Act of 1919. While the Finnish Government holds most executive power under the Constitution of Finland, the president still has some important duties. Officially, the president ranks first in the protocol above the speaker of the parliament and the prime minister of Finland.

For much of Finland's history as an independent country, the president had strong powers over foreign and domestic matters. Changes to the constitution in 1991, 2000, and 2012 lessened these powers, moving Finland closer to a parliamentary system. Even so, the president still helps guide the country's foreign policy together with the government and serves as the commander-in-chief of the Finnish Defence Forces.

The person who leads Finland as its head of state is called the president of the Republic of Finland. In Finnish, this is Suomen tasavallan presidentti, and in Swedish, it is republiken Finlands president. Former leaders keep the title "President" even after leaving office.

Election

In Finland, people can run to become president if their party has won a seat in past elections or if 20,000 citizens support them. Each party usually picks its own candidate.

Until 1994, Finland used a special group called an electoral college to choose the president. Now, people vote directly for their favorite candidate. If only one person runs, they become president without an election. If more than one person runs, there are two rounds of voting. The first round happens on the fourth Sunday in January. If one person gets more than half of the votes, they win. If not, the top two candidates have a second round two weeks later. The person with the most votes in the second round becomes president. If it’s a tie, a lottery decides the winner. The government checks the results and the president starts their job on the first day of the month after the election, which is either February 1 or March 1, depending on how many rounds of voting there were.

There have been some special cases in Finland’s history. The first president was chosen by parliament. In some years, like during wars, special rules were used to pick the president.

Inauguration

When a new president is elected in Finland, they start their job on the first day of the next month. They make a special promise in both Finnish and Swedish during a ceremony at Parliament House. This promise means they will follow Finland’s rules and help the people.

Right after the promise, the new president meets the old president and sees honor guards outside the Parliament House.

Presidential sessions

The president of Finland works with the Finnish Government, like old royal meetings. They meet once a week with five ministers and the chancellor of justice. Each minister talks about their work and suggests what to do next. The president then decides, sometimes changing the suggestion or asking for more ideas. There are no votes, and usually no speeches except for the suggestions. If the president and government don’t agree, they can ask the Parliament to make the final choice, especially for new laws and important appointments.

Duties and powers

The president of Finland has important jobs and powers as described in the country's Constitution. The president works with the government and Parliament to help the country run well. Over time, the president's powers have changed, and now they share many jobs with the prime minister.

One key job of the president is to help manage elections for Parliament. When needed, the president can call for early elections after talking with Parliament. The president also appoints important leaders, such as the prime minister and other government members, after they are chosen by Parliament.

The president helps with Finland's international relationships, working with the government on foreign policy. They also must approve laws passed by Parliament before they become official. In special cases, the president can forgive someone from a prison sentence, though this power is used carefully.

As the commander-in-chief of Finland's defence forces, the president helps guide the military, especially in times of need. During very difficult situations, the president has special powers to help protect the country, but these must be approved by Parliament.

Each year, the president gives important speeches, including a New Year's Speech and messages when Parliament starts its yearly sessions. The president also awards special honors to people for their achievements.

Main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Finland

Compensation

From 2012 to 2013, the president of Finland earned an annual salary of 160,000 euros, which was not taxed. In 2013, the salary was reduced to 126,000 euros by President Sauli Niinistö. Starting on March 1, 2024, the salary went back up to 160,000 euros. In addition to the salary, the president receives an apartment and necessary staff. Presidents who serve six years or more are also entitled to a pension equal to sixty percent of the current presidential salary, along with living arrangements. The president’s salary and housing benefits are not taxed.

Presidents of Finland

Main article: List of presidents of Finland

See also: List of presidents of Finland by time in office

The president of Finland is the head of the country. The current president is Alexander Stubb. He began his role on March 1, 2024, after being elected that year.

Official residences

The president of Finland uses three special homes for living and welcoming guests. These are the Presidential Palace and Mäntyniemi, both located in Helsinki, and Kultaranta in Naantali near Turku on the west coast.

Incapacity and succession

In Finland, there is no vice president. If the president cannot do their job for a short time, the prime minister or the deputy prime minister steps in as acting president until the president is ready again. If the president can no longer serve, a new election is held to choose a successor. If all three—the president, prime minister, and deputy prime minister—are unavailable, the oldest minister in the government serves as acting president. The parliament can change these rules in special cases with a big majority vote.

Impeachment

If important officials think the president has done something very wrong, like betraying the country, they tell Parliament. If Parliament agrees by a big majority, the president can be tried by a special court. During this time, the president cannot do their job.

Independence Day Reception

Main article: Independence Day Reception (Finland)

Every year on December 6, Finland celebrates its Independence Day with a special event at the Presidential Palace. This event is called the "Castle Ball" in Finnish. It is a big celebration of Finland's independence and started in 1919.

Many people are invited, and the event is shown live on Finnish television. The president and their spouse welcome the guests. There is music, dancing, and a buffet for everyone to enjoy.

History

After Finland became independent, people argued about whether the country should be a republic or a constitutional monarchy. They chose a strong presidency that controlled foreign affairs, the government, and civil service. In 2000, the constitution changed to give more power to Parliament and the government. Now, the president cannot choose the prime minister or ministers alone. The president must also talk to the prime minister before dissolving Parliament.

Before Finland became a republic, there were leaders called regents and even an elected king who never took office. Pehr Evind Svinhufvud was the head of state from independence until the end of the civil war. Later, he and Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim both served as presidents of Finland.

• Gallery of Presidential state cars from different eras

• Chrysler Imperial from 1931

• Cadillac from 1952

• Chrysler New Yorker from 1968

• Chrysler New Yorker from 1972

• Cadillac from 1991

• Mercedes-Benz from 1990s

• Mercedes-Benz S600 L Guard from 2017

• Audi A8 from 2025

Timeline

The president of Finland is the head of the country. As of March 1, 2024, the current president is Alexander Stubb. He was first elected in the 2024 election.