Finnish Council of State

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Republic of Finland

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The Council of State (Finnish: Valtioneuvosto, Swedish: Statsrådet) is Finland's cabinet; it 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. In spite of the occasisional blurring by translators, the difference is significant.

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), 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.

With the constitution of 2000, Finland adheres de jure to the principles of Parliamentarism, although de facto all presidents since Kyösti Kallio (19361940) have chosen to appoint cabinets supported or tolerated by parliamentary majorities.

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.

[edit] Current Council of State

The current Council of State, the 70th to be formed since Finland's independence, was appointed by President Tarja Halonen on April 19th, 2007. The current Council of State is a coalition comprising the Centre Party (KESK), the National Coalition (KOK), the Green League (VIHR), and the Swedish People's Party (SFP). There are 12 women and 8 men in the cabinet, which makes it the first cabinet in Finnish history with female majority. The current cabinet also has more ministers than any of its predecessors; it has 20 ministers, while the former cabinet had 18.

The Chancellor of Justice is an ex officio non-voting member of the Council of State.

Position Minister Party
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen Centre Party
Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen National Coalition
Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb National Coalition
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen Centre Party
Minister of Justice Tuija Brax Green League
Minister of the Interior Anne Holmlund National Coalition
Minister of Immigration and European Affairs Astrid Thors SFP
Minister of Defence Jyri Häkämies National Coalition
Minister of Public Administration and Local Government Mari Kiviniemi Centre Party
Minister of Education Sari Sarkomaa National Coalition
Minister of Culture and Sport Stefan Wallin SFP
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sirkka-Liisa Anttila Centre Party
Minister of Transport Anu Vehviläinen Centre Party
Minister of Communications Suvi Lindén National Coalition
Minister of Trade and Industry Mauri Pekkarinen Centre Party
Minister of Social Affairs and Health Liisa Hyssälä Centre Party
Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Risikko National Coalition
Minister of Labour Tarja Cronberg Green League
Minister of the Environment Paula Lehtomäki Centre Party
Minister of Housing Jan Vapaavuori National Coalition

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