Politics of Helsinki

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[edit] City Council

Like in all Finnish municipalities, the city council in Helsinki is the main decision-making organ in local politics, dealing with issues such as city planning, schools, health care, and public transport. The 85-member council is elected every fourth year by municipal elections.

Traditionally, the conservative National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) has been the biggest party in Helsinki's local politics, with the Social Democrats being the second biggest. In the 2000 election the Green League, for which Helsinki is the strongest area of support nationally, gained the position of the second most popular party. In 2004 however, the Social Democrats regained that position. Currently these three groups hold about 75% of the seats.

The Left Alliance and the Swedish People's Party both have some 7-8% of the seats. The latter's support has been steadily declining over the years, most likely because of the diminishing proportion of Swedish speakers in Helsinki. The Centre Party of Finland, despite being one of the three major parties in nationwide politics, only has little support in Helsinki like it does in most other big cities.

[edit] Seat distribution in the city council

Party 2004 2000 1996
National Coalition Party 25 25 24
SDP 21 18 21
Green League 17 21 16
Left Alliance 8 7 6
Swedish People's Party 6 6 8
Centre Party 4 4 3
Christian Democrats 2 3 2
True Finns 1 - -
SKP 1 0 0
Independents 0 1 0

[edit] Chairmen of the City Council

  • Leo Mechelin (1875–1878, except 1877)
  • ...
  • Leo Mechelin (1892–1899)
  • ...
  • Alfred Norrmén (1904–1918)
  • ...
  • Antti Tulenheimo
  • ...
  • Pentti Poukka
  • Harri Holkeri (1981–1987)
  • Rakel Hiltunen (1989–1992)
  • Arja Alho (1993–1994)
  • Suvi Rihtniemi (1995–2000)
  • Pekka Sauri (2001–2003)
  • Minerva Krohn (2003–2004)
  • Rakel Hiltunen (2005–)

[edit] Mayor

The Mayor of Helsinki is appointed by the city council. The post is currently held by Jussi Pajunen. He was appointed for a term of 7 years, starting June 1, 2005. Pajunen was a member of the city council for 8 years, and was the chairman of the city board in 2003-2005. According to local media, the three biggest parties in the council had agreed in the wake of the October 2004 municipal election that the mayor's seat will go to the Coalition party.

Current Deputy Mayors are Pekka Korpinen, Ilkka-Christian Björklund, Pekka Sauri, and Paula Kokkonen.


Mayors of Helsinki
Mayor Term Party
Arthur Castrén 1921–1930
Antti Tulenheimo 1931–1944 Kokoomus
Eero Rydman 1944–1956 Edistyspuolue
Lauri Aho 1956–1968 Kokoomus
Teuvo Aura 1968–1979 Vapaamielisten Liitto
Raimo Ilaskivi 1979–1991 Kokoomus
Kari Rahkamo 1991–1996 Kokoomus
Eva-Riitta Siitonen 1996–31 May 2005 Kokoomus
Jussi Pajunen Since June 1, 2005 Kokoomus

[edit] External links

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