Speaker of the Parliament of Finland explained

Post:Speaker
Body:Parliament of Finland
Native Name:Eduskunnan puhemies
Riksdagens talman
Incumbent:Jussi Halla-aho
Incumbentsince:21 June 2023
Department:Parliament of Finland
Appointer:Parliament
Termlength:One year
Constituting Instrument:Constitution of Finland
Precursor:Speaker of the Diet of Finland
First:Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
Salary:€13,390 monthly[1]
Website:www.eduskunta.fi

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

No.PortraitName
Term of officeParty
1Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
23 May
1907
31 January
1913
Young Finnish
2Oskari Tokoi
3 February
1913
1 February
1914
Social Democratic
3Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg
3 February
1914
3 April
1917
Young Finnish
4Kullervo Manner
4 April
1917
30 October
1917
Social Democratic
5Johannes Lundson
2 November
1917
25 September
1918
Young Finnish
6Lauri Ingman
27 September
1918
4 November
1918
Finnish
7Ernst Nevanlinna
6 November
1918
11 November
1918
Finnish
(6)Lauri Ingman
13 November
1918
28 November
1918
Finnish
8Paavo Virkkunen
29 November
1918
31 March
1919
Finnish
9Lauri Kristian Relander
2 April
1919
8 May
1920
Agrarian
10Kyösti Kallio
8 May
1920
29 March
1921
Agrarian
11Wäinö Wuolijoki
31 March
1921
4 September
1922
Social Democratic
(10)Kyösti Kallio
6 September
1922
14 November
1922
Agrarian
(11)Wäinö Wuolijoki
15 November
1922
31 January
1923
Social Democratic
(8)Paavo Virkkunen
2 February
1923
30 April
1924
National Coalition
(10)Kyösti Kallio
2 May
1924
31 March
1925
Agrarian
(11)Wäinö Wuolijoki
1 April
1925
31 January
1926
Social Democratic
(8)Paavo Virkkunen
2 February
1926
1 September
1927
National Coalition
(10)Kyösti Kallio
3 September
1927
31 January
1928
Agrarian
(8)Paavo Virkkunen
1 February
1928
31 January
1929
National Coalition
(10)Kyösti Kallio
1 February
1929
16 August
1929
Agrarian
(8)Paavo Virkkunen
17 August
1929
7 July
1930
National Coalition
12Juho Sunila
8 July
1930
20 October
1930
Agrarian
(10)Kyösti Kallio
21 October
1930
8 October
1936
Agrarian
13Väinö Hakkila
9 October
1936
4 April
1945
Social Democratic
14Karl-August Fagerholm
6 April
1945
14 July
1948
Social Democratic
15Urho Kekkonen
22 July
1948
21 March
1950
Agrarian
(14)Karl-August Fagerholm
23 March
1950
6 March
1956
Social Democratic
16V. J. Sukselainen
9 March
1956
28 May
1957
Agrarian
(14)Karl-August Fagerholm
31 May
1957
6 June
1958
Social Democratic
(16)V. J. Sukselainen
29 July
1958
14 January
1959
Agrarian
(14)Karl-August Fagerholm
14 January
1959
16 February
1962
Social Democratic
17Kauno Kleemola
24 February
1962
12 March
1965
Agrarian
Centre
(14)Karl-August Fagerholm
23 March
1965
4 April
1966
Social Democratic
18Rafael Paasio
14 April
1966
1 June
1966
Social Democratic
19Johannes Virolainen
3 June
1966
26 March
1968
Centre
(16)V. J. Sukselainen
26 March
1968
20 March
1970
Centre
(18)Rafael Paasio
3 April
1970
29 February
1972
Social Democratic
(16)V. J. Sukselainen
29 February
1972
28 January
1976
Centre
20Veikko Helle
5 February
1976
31 January
1978
Social Democratic
21Ahti Pekkala
1 February
1978
29 May
1979
Centre
(19)Johannes Virolainen
5 June
1979
25 March
1983
Centre
22Erkki Pystynen
7 April
1983
25 March
1987
National Coalition
23Ilkka Suominen
2 April
1987
5 May
1987
National Coalition
24Matti Ahde
8 May
1987
1 February
1989
Social Democratic
25Kalevi Sorsa
1 February
1989
21 March
1991
Social Democratic
26Esko Aho
4 April
1991
26 April
1991
Centre
(23)Ilkka Suominen
30 April
1991
6 February
1994
National Coalition
27Riitta Uosukainen
7 February
1994
23 March
1995
National Coalition
28Paavo Lipponen
28 March
1995
19 April
1995
Social Democratic
(27)Riitta Uosukainen
21 April
1995
23 March
1999
National Coalition
29Jukka Mikkola
30 March
1999
16 April
1999
Social Democratic
(27)Riitta Uosukainen
20 April
1999
18 March
2003
National Coalition
30Anneli Jäätteenmäki
25 March
2003
16 April
2003
Centre
(28)Paavo Lipponen
22 April
2003
20 March
2007
Social Democratic
31Timo Kalli
27 March
2007
20 April
2007
Centre
32Sauli Niinistö
24 April
2007
19 April
2011
National Coalition
33Ben Zyskowicz
27 April
2011
22 June
2011
National Coalition
34Eero Heinäluoma
23 June
2011
21 April
2015
Social Democratic
35Juha Sipilä
28 April
2015
29 May
2015
Centre
36Maria Lohela
29 May
2015
5 February
2018
Finns
Blue Reform
37Paula Risikko
5 February
2018
16 April
2019
National Coalition
38Antti Rinne
24 April
2019
5 June
2019
Social Democratic
39Matti Vanhanen
7 June
2019
9 June
2020
Centre
40Anu Vehviläinen
9 June
2020
1 February
2022
Centre
(39)Matti Vanhanen
1 February
2022
4 April
2023
Centre
41Petteri Orpo
12 April
2023
20 June
2023
National Coalition
42Jussi Halla-aho
21 June
2023
IncumbentFinns

List of deputy speakers

First deputy speakers

SpeakerTerm in officeParty
1907–1908 SDP
1908–1909 SDP
1909 Finnish Party
1909–1910 SDP
1910 SDP
1910–1911 SPP
1911–1913 SDP
1913–1914 Finnish Party
1914–1917 SDP
1917–1918 Finnish Party
1918 Young Finns
1918–1919 Agrarian League
1919–1921 SDP
1921–1922 NPP
1922–1923 SDP
1924–1925 NCP
1925–1928 Agrarian League
1928–1929 SDP
1929–1930 SDP
1930–1932 NCP
1932–1936 SDP
1936–1937 Agrarian League
1937–1938 Agrarian League
1938–1940 Agrarian League
1940–1945 Agrarian League
1945 SKDL
1945–1946 SKDL
1946 SKDL
1946–1947 Agrarian League
1947–1948 Agrarian League
1948–1949 SDP
1949–1950 Agrarian League
1950–1953 Agrarian League
1954–1956 Agrarian League
1956–1957 SDP
1957–1958 Agrarian League
1958–1959 SKDL
1959–1966 SKDL
1966 Centre Party
1966–1970 SDP
1970–1971 Centre Party
1971–1972 Centre Party
1972 SDP
1972–1976 SDP
1976–1978 Centre Party
1978–1983 SDP
1983–1985 SDP
1985–1987 SDP
1987–1991 NCP
1991–1995 SDP
1995–1996 Centre Party
1996–1999 Centre Party
1999–2003 Centre Party
2003 SDP
2003 Centre Party
2003–2006 Centre Party
2006–2007 Centre Party
2007 NCP
2007–2011 Centre Party
2011 SDP
2011–2015 NCP
2015Finns Party
2015–2019Centre Party
2019 Finns Party
2019 SDP
2019–2020SDP
2020–2021SDP
2021–2023SDP
2023 Finns Party
2023– NCP

Second deputy speakers

SpeakerTerm in officeParty
1907–1908 Finnish Party
1908–1909 Finnish Party
1909 SPP
1909–1910 Finnish Party
1910 SPP
1910–1913 Finnish Party
1913 SPP
1913–1914 SPP
1914–1917 Finnish Party
1917 SDP
1917–1918 Agrarian League
1918 SPP
1918–1919 NCP
1919–1921 NCP
1922 Agrarian League
1922 NPP
1923–1924 Agrarian League
1924–1925 SDP
1925 NCP
1926 Agrarian League
1926–1927 SDP
1927–1928 SDP
1928–1929 SPP
1929 NCP
1929–1930 Agrarian League
1930 NCP
1930–1933 SDP
1933–1939 SPP
1939–1943 NCP
1943–1945 NCP
1945 Agrarian League
1945–1946 Agrarian League
1947–1958 SKDL
1958 SDP
1959–1961 Agrarian League
1961–1962 Agrarian League
1962–1964 NCP
1964–1966 NCP
1966–1968 SKDL
1968–1970 SKDL
1970–1975 NCP
1975–1979 NCP
1979–1983 NCP
1983 Centre Party
1983–1991 Centre Party
1991 NCP
1991–1994 Centre Party
1994 Centre Party
1995 NCP
1995–1996 SDP
1996–1999 SDP
1999 NCP
1999–2003 SDP
2003–2007 NCP
2007–2010 SDP
2010–2011 SDP
2011–2015 Finns Party
2015 NCP
2015–2016 NCP
2016–2018 NCP
2018–2019 SDP
2019 NCP
2019–2023 Finns Party
2023– SDP

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eduskunnan puhemiehen palkkioon yli tuhannen euron korotus, toisen kauden kansanedustajien palkkioihin uusi "väliporras". April 17, 2019. Helsingin Sanomat.
  2. Book: Maassa maan tavalla - tunne säännöt ja onnistu. Ulkoasiainministeriön protokollapalvelut . 32 . Ulkoasiainministeriö . 2008 . 978-952-281-173-8 . fi.
  3. Web site: The Speaker and Deputy Speakers. Parliament of Finland. 17 April 2023.
  4. Web site: Suomen perustuslaki 731/1999. Edita . Ajantasainen lainsäädäntö, finlex.fi . 17 April 2023. fi.
  5. Web site: Eduskunnan työjärjestys 40/2000 . Edita . Ajantasainen lainsäädäntö, finlex.fi . 17 April 2023. fi.
  6. Web site: History of Finnish Parliament. Eduskunta. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140606220733/http://web.eduskunta.fi/dman/Document.phx?documentId=hn30808152947824&cmd=download&versionId=1. 2014-06-06.
  7. Web site: The Constitution of Finland .