Speaker of the Parliament of Finland

Legislative chair of the government of Finland
Speaker of Parliament of Finland
Eduskunnan puhemies
Riksdagens talman
Incumbent
Jussi Halla-aho
since 21 June 2023
Parliament of Finland
SeatHelsinki, Finland
AppointerParliament
Term lengthOne year
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Finland
PrecursorSpeaker of the Diet of Finland
Formation1907; 117 years ago (1907)
First holderPehr Evind Svinhufvud
Salary€13,390 monthly[1]
Websitewww.eduskunta.fi
Politics of Finland
Executive
Legislative
Recent elections
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The speaker of the Parliament of Finland (Finnish eduskunnan puhemies, Swedish riksdagens talman), along with two deputy speakers, is elected by Parliament during the first plenary session each year. Speakers are chosen for a year at a time. In addition to their preparing the work in plenary sessions the speakers also play a key role in Parliament's international co-operation, which includes visits by speakers and international delegations as well as participation in numerous interparliamentary organisations.

The speaker and two deputy speakers are elected by parliament from among its members by secret ballot. After the election the speaker and deputy speakers each make the following solemn affirmation before Parliament:

"I, ..., affirm that in my office as speaker I will to the best of my ability defend the rights of the people, parliament and the government of Finland according to the Constitution."

Formally, the speaker ranks second in the protocol, after the president of Finland and before the prime minister of Finland.[2] The speaker is the chairman of the parliament, who grants the floor for speeches and replies, makes voting proposals and decides on the final order of business.[3] An interim speaker is elected for the duration of government formation talks. The speaker's duties are defined in the Constitution of Finland and the parliament's rules of procedure.[4][5]

The title puhemies or talman has, both in Finnish and Swedish, the literal meaning 'spokesman', which has caused mild controversies in terms of sexism in language. However, according to official language authorities, the title is not easy to change to a more gender-neutral alternative due to its "strong connection to the institution and history of the Parliament".[6]

If there is a tie in the Speaker's Council the speaker is given a tie-breaking vote.[7]

List of speakers of the Parliament of Finland

Desk of the speaker of the Parliament of Finland
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Party
Took office Left office
1 Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
(1861–1944)
23 May
1907
31 January
1913
Young Finnish
2 Oskari Tokoi
(1873–1963)
3 February
1913
1 February
1914
Social Democratic
3 Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg
(1865–1952)
3 February
1914
3 April
1917
Young Finnish
4 Kullervo Manner
(1880–1939)
4 April
1917
30 October
1917
Social Democratic
5 Johannes Lundson
(1867–1939)
2 November
1917
25 September
1918
Young Finnish
6 Lauri Ingman
(1868–1934)
27 September
1918
4 November
1918
Finnish
7 Ernst Nevanlinna
(1873–1932)
6 November
1918
11 November
1918
Finnish
(6) Lauri Ingman
(1868–1934)
13 November
1918
28 November
1918
Finnish
8 Paavo Virkkunen
(1874–1959)
29 November
1918
31 March
1919
Finnish
9 Lauri Kristian Relander
(1883–1942)
2 April
1919
8 May
1920
Agrarian
10 Kyösti Kallio
(1873–1940)
8 May
1920
29 March
1921
Agrarian
11 Wäinö Wuolijoki
(1872–1947)
31 March
1921
4 September
1922
Social Democratic
(10) Kyösti Kallio
(1873–1940)
6 September
1922
14 November
1922
Agrarian
(11) Wäinö Wuolijoki
(1872–1947)
15 November
1922
31 January
1923
Social Democratic
(8) Paavo Virkkunen
(1874–1959)
2 February
1923
30 April
1924
National Coalition
(10) Kyösti Kallio
(1873–1940)
2 May
1924
31 March
1925
Agrarian
(11) Wäinö Wuolijoki
(1872–1947)
1 April
1925
31 January
1926
Social Democratic
(8) Paavo Virkkunen
(1874–1959)
2 February
1926
1 September
1927
National Coalition
(10) Kyösti Kallio
(1873–1940)
3 September
1927
31 January
1928
Agrarian
(8) Paavo Virkkunen
(1874–1959)
1 February
1928
31 January
1929
National Coalition
(10) Kyösti Kallio
(1873–1940)
1 February
1929
16 August
1929
Agrarian
(8) Paavo Virkkunen
(1874–1959)
17 August
1929
7 July
1930
National Coalition
12 Juho Sunila
(1875–1936)
8 July
1930
20 October
1930
Agrarian
(10) Kyösti Kallio
(1873–1940)
21 October
1930
8 October
1936
Agrarian
13 Väinö Hakkila
(1882–1958)
9 October
1936
4 April
1945
Social Democratic
14 Karl-August Fagerholm
(1901–1984)
6 April
1945
14 July
1948
Social Democratic
15 Urho Kekkonen
(1900–1986)
22 July
1948
21 March
1950
Agrarian
(14) Karl-August Fagerholm
(1901–1984)
23 March
1950
6 March
1956
Social Democratic
16 V. J. Sukselainen
(1906–1995)
9 March
1956
28 May
1957
Agrarian
(14) Karl-August Fagerholm
(1901–1984)
31 May
1957
6 June
1958
Social Democratic
(16) V. J. Sukselainen
(1906–1995)
29 July
1958
14 January
1959
Agrarian
(14) Karl-August Fagerholm
(1901–1984)
14 January
1959
16 February
1962
Social Democratic
17 Kauno Kleemola
(1906–1965)
24 February
1962
12 March
1965
Agrarian
(until 1965)
Centre
(from 1965)
(14) Karl-August Fagerholm
(1901–1984)
23 March
1965
4 April
1966
Social Democratic
18 Rafael Paasio
(1903–1980)
14 April
1966
1 June
1966
Social Democratic
19 Johannes Virolainen
(1914–2000)
3 June
1966
26 March
1968
Centre
(16) V. J. Sukselainen
(1906–1995)
26 March
1968
20 March
1970
Centre
(18) Rafael Paasio
(1903–1980)
3 April
1970
29 February
1972
Social Democratic
(16) V. J. Sukselainen
(1906–1995)
29 February
1972
28 January
1976
Centre
20 Veikko Helle
(1911–2005)
5 February
1976
31 January
1978
Social Democratic
21 Ahti Pekkala
(1924–2014)
1 February
1978
29 May
1979
Centre
(19) Johannes Virolainen
(1914–2000)
5 June
1979
25 March
1983
Centre
22 Erkki Pystynen
(born 1929)
7 April
1983
25 March
1987
National Coalition
23 Ilkka Suominen (2009) Ilkka Suominen
(1939–2022)
2 April
1987
5 May
1987
National Coalition
24 Matti Ahde
(1945–2019)
8 May
1987
1 February
1989
Social Democratic
25 Kalevi Sorsa
(1930–2004)
1 February
1989
21 March
1991
Social Democratic
26 Esko Aho
(born 1954)
4 April
1991
26 April
1991
Centre
(23) Ilkka Suominen (2009) Ilkka Suominen
(1939–2022)
30 April
1991
6 February
1994
National Coalition
27 Riitta Uosukainen
(born 1942)
7 February
1994
23 March
1995
National Coalition
28 Paavo Lipponen
(born 1941)
28 March
1995
19 April
1995
Social Democratic
(27) Riitta Uosukainen
(born 1942)
21 April
1995
23 March
1999
National Coalition
29 Jukka Mikkola
(1943–2018)
30 March
1999
16 April
1999
Social Democratic
(27) Riitta Uosukainen
(born 1942)
20 April
1999
18 March
2003
National Coalition
30 Anneli Jäätteenmäki
(born 1955)
25 March
2003
16 April
2003
Centre
(28) Paavo Lipponen
(born 1941)
22 April
2003
20 March
2007
Social Democratic
31 Timo Kalli
(born 1947)
27 March
2007
20 April
2007
Centre
32 Sauli Niinistö
(born 1948)
24 April
2007
19 April
2011
National Coalition
33 Ben Zyskowicz
(born 1954)
27 April
2011
22 June
2011
National Coalition
34 Eero Heinäluoma
(born 1955)
23 June
2011
21 April
2015
Social Democratic
35 Juha Sipilä
(born 1961)
28 April
2015
29 May
2015
Centre
36 Maria Lohela
(born 1978)
29 May
2015
5 February
2018
Finns
(until 2017)
Blue Reform
(from 2017)
37 Paula Risikko
(born 1960)
5 February
2018
16 April
2019
National Coalition
38 Antti Rinne
(born 1962)
24 April
2019
5 June
2019
Social Democratic
39 Matti Vanhanen
(born 1955)
7 June
2019
9 June
2020
Centre
40 Anu Vehviläinen
(born 1963)
9 June
2020
1 February
2022
Centre
(39) Matti Vanhanen
(born 1955)
1 February
2022
4 April
2023
Centre
41 Petteri Orpo
(born 1969)
12 April
2023
20 June
2023
National Coalition
42 Jussi Halla-aho
(born 1971)
21 June
2023
Incumbent Finns

List of deputy speakers

First deputy speakers

Speaker Term in office Party
Nils Robert af Ursin 1907–1908 SDP
Yrjö Sirola 1908–1909 SDP
Akseli Listo 1909 Finnish Party
Yrjö Sirola 1909–1910 SDP
Väinö Tanner 1910 SDP
Karl Söderholm 1910–1911 SPP
Oskari Tokoi 1911–1913 SDP
Lauri Ingman 1913–1914 Finnish Party
Oskari Tokoi 1914–1917 SDP
Lauri Ingman 1917–1918 Finnish Party
Pekka Ahmavaara 1918 Young Finns
Santeri Alkio 1918–1919 Agrarian League
Anton Kotonen 1919–1921 SDP
Oskari Mantere 1921–1922 NPP
Wäinö Wuolijoki 1922–1923 SDP
Paavo Virkkunen 1924–1925 NCP
Jalo Lahdensuo 1925–1928 Agrarian League
Rieti Itkonen 1928–1929 SDP
Väinö Hakkila 1929–1930 SDP
Antti Tulenheimo 1930–1932 NCP
Väinö Hakkila 1932–1936 SDP
Juho Koivisto 1936–1937 Agrarian League
Jalo Lahdensuo 1937–1938 Agrarian League
Viljami Kalliokoski 1938–1940 Agrarian League
Mikko Tarkkanen 1940–1945 Agrarian League
Cay Sundström 1945 SKDL
Eino Pekkala 1945–1946 SKDL
Toivo Kujala 1946 SKDL
Lennart Heljas 1946–1947 Agrarian League
Urho Kekkonen 1947–1948 Agrarian League
Alpo Lumme 1948–1949 SDP
Penna Tervo 1949–1950 Agrarian League
Viljami Kalliokoski 1950–1953 Agrarian League
Lennart Heljas 1954–1956 Agrarian League
Väinö Leskinen 1956–1957 SDP
Lennart Heljas 1957–1958 Agrarian League
Toivo Kujala 1958–1959 SKDL
Paavo Aitio 1959–1966 SKDL
Wiljam Sarjala 1966 Centre Party
Veikko Kokkola 1966–1970 SDP
Nestori Kaasalainen 1970–1971 Centre Party
Johannes Virolainen 1971–1972 Centre Party
Esko Niskanen 1972 SDP
Veikko Helle 1972–1976 SDP
Ahti Pekkala 1976–1978 Centre Party
Veikko Helle 1978–1983 SDP
Pirkko Työläjärvi 1983–1985 SDP
Matti Louekoski 1985–1987 SDP
Elsi Hetemäki-Olander 1987–1991 NCP
Saara-Maria Paakkinen 1991–1995 SDP
Sirkka-Liisa Anttila 1995–1996 Centre Party
Mikko Pesälä 1996–1999 Centre Party
Sirkka-Liisa Anttila 1999–2003 Centre Party
Liisa Jaakonsaari 2003 SDP
Seppo Kääriäinen 2003 Centre Party
Markku Koski 2003–2006 Centre Party
Sirkka-Liisa Anttila 2006–2007 Centre Party
Ilkka Kanerva 2007 NCP
Seppo Kääriäinen 2007–2011 Centre Party
Jutta Urpilainen 2011 SDP
Pekka Ravi 2011–2015 NCP
Timo Soini 2015 Finns Party
Mauri Pekkarinen 2015–2019 Centre Party
Juho Eerola 2019 Finns Party
Tuula Haatainen 2019 SDP
Antti Rinne 2019–2020 SDP
Tarja Filatov 2020–2021 SDP
Antti Rinne 2021–2023 SDP
Juho Eerola 2023 Finns Party
Paula Risikko 2023– NCP

Second deputy speakers

Speaker Term in office Party
Ernst Palmén 1907–1908 Finnish Party
Akseli Listo 1908–1909 Finnish Party
Karl Söderholm 1909 SPP
Akseli Listo 1909–1910 Finnish Party
Karl Söderholm 1910 SPP
Akseli Listo 1910–1913 Finnish Party
Karl Söderholm 1913 SPP
Emil Schybergson 1913–1914 SPP
Lauri Ingman 1914–1917 Finnish Party
Väinö Jokinen 1917 SDP
Santeri Alkio 1917–1918 Agrarian League
Emil Schybergson 1918 SPP
Pekka Ahmavaara 1918–1919 NCP
Paavo Virkkunen 1919–1921 NCP
Eero Hatva 1922 Agrarian League
Oskar Mantere 1922 NPP
Jalo Lahdensuo 1923–1924 Agrarian League
Wäinö Wuolijoki 1924–1925 SDP
Paavo Virkkunen 1925 NCP
Jalo Lahdensuo 1926 Agrarian League
Jaakko Keto 1926–1927 SDP
Rieti Itkonen 1927–1928 SDP
Ragnar Furuhjelm 1928–1929 SPP
Paavo Virkkunen 1929 NCP
Juho Sunila 1929–1930 Agrarian League
Gunnar Sahlstein 1930 NCP
Väinö Hakkila 1930–1933 SDP
Ernst von Born 1933–1939 SPP
Edwin Linkomies 1939–1943 NCP
Toivo Horelli 1943–1945 NCP
Vihtori Vesterinen 1945 Agrarian League
Lennart Heljas 1945–1946 Agrarian League
Toivo Kujala 1947–1958 SKDL
Onni Peltonen 1958 SDP
Johannes Virolainen 1959–1961 Agrarian League
Kusti Eskola 1961–1962 Agrarian League
Jussi Saukkonen 1962–1964 NCP
Niilo Kosola 1964–1966 NCP
Paavo Aitio 1966–1968 SKDL
Leo Suonpää 1968–1970 SKDL
Olavi Lähteenmäki 1970–1975 NCP
Anna-Liisa Linkola 1975–1979 NCP
Juuso Häikiö 1979–1983 NCP
Veikko Pihlajamäki 1983 Centre Party
Mikko Pesälä 1983–1991 Centre Party
Ritva Laurila 1991 NCP
Mikko Pesälä 1991–1994 Centre Party
Seppo Pelttari 1994 Centre Party
Riitta Uosukainen 1995 NCP
Matti Louekoski 1995–1996 SDP
Kerttu Törnqvist 1996–1999 SDP
Riitta Uosukainen 1999 NCP
Jukka Mikkola 1999–2003 SDP
Ilkka Kanerva 2003–2007 NCP
Johannes Koskinen 2007–2010 SDP
Tarja Filatov 2010–2011 SDP
Anssi Joutsenlahti 2011–2015 Finns Party
Ben Zyskowicz 2015 NCP
Paula Risikko 2015–2016 NCP
Arto Satonen 2016–2018 NCP
Tuula Haatainen 2018–2019 SDP
Paula Risikko 2019 NCP
Juho Eerola 2019–2023 Finns Party
Tarja Filatov 2023– SDP

See also

References

  1. ^ "Eduskunnan puhemiehen palkkioon yli tuhannen euron korotus, toisen kauden kansanedustajien palkkioihin uusi "väliporras"". Helsingin Sanomat. April 17, 2019.
  2. ^ Maassa maan tavalla - tunne säännöt ja onnistu. Ulkoasiainministeriön protokollapalvelut (in Finnish). Ulkoasiainministeriö. 2008. p. 32. ISBN 978-952-281-173-8.
  3. ^ "The Speaker and Deputy Speakers". Parliament of Finland. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Suomen perustuslaki 731/1999". Ajantasainen lainsäädäntö, finlex.fi (in Finnish). Edita. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Eduskunnan työjärjestys 40/2000". Ajantasainen lainsäädäntö, finlex.fi (in Finnish). Edita. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  6. ^ "History of Finnish Parliament". Eduskunta. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06.
  7. ^ "The Constitution of Finland" (PDF).

External links

  • Media related to Speakers of the Parliament of Finland at Wikimedia Commons
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