Government of Finland

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Republic of Finland
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Finland

State Gov't Constitution Declaration of Independence Human rights Executive President List Tarja Halonen Prime Minister List Matti Vanhanen Executive Departments Council of State Legislative 35th Parliament Speaker Sauli Niinistö Judiciary General Courts Supreme Court Courts of Appeal District Courts Administrative Courts Supreme Administrative Court Regional Administrative Courts Prosecutor General Matti Kuusimäki Chancellor of Justice Elections 1991 parliamentary 1994 presidential EU Membership Referendum 1995 parliamentary 1996 European 1999 parliamentary 1999 European 2000 presidential 2003 parliamentary 2004 European 2006 presidential 2007 parliamentary Divisions Provinces (Läänit) Regions (Maakunnat) Sub-regions (Seutukunnat) Municipalities (Kunta) Political parties KESK (Centre Party) KOK (National Coalition Party) SDP (Social Democratic Party) VIHR (Green League) VAS (Left Alliance) KD (Christian Democrats) PS (True Finns) RKP (Swedish People Party) Politicians Foreign Policy Foreign relations Ambassadors Politics of the European Union
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Finland is a Republic with a representative democracy governed according to the principles of parliamentarism. Legislative power is vested in the Parliament of Finland. Executive affairs of government are decided by the Council of State, which is led by the prime minister. Some matters are decided by the President of Finland in plenary meetings with the Council of State, echoing the constitutional history of a Privy Council. The President of the Republic is otherwise not present in the Council, but decides on issues like personal appointments and pardons on the advice of the relevant minister. In the ministries, matters of secondary importance are decided by individual ministers, advised by the minister's State Secretary. The Prime Minister and the other ministers in the Council of State are responsible for their actions in office to the Parliament of Finland.

[edit] Head of Government

Main article: Prime Minister of Finland

Head of Government: Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (since 2003)

Council of State: Ministers are appointed by the President upon the nomination of the Prime Minister and confirmed by Parliament

Elections: The Prime Minister designate is appointed by the President of Finland and then confirmed by Parliament

Election results: Matti Vanhanen was elected Prime Minister in June 2003, continuing the coalition government between the Centre Party (KESK), the Social Democrats (SDP), and the Swedish People's Party, which was established by his predecessor following the General Election in 2003. In 2007, following the election victory of National Coalition Party, Center Party formed a coalition government with the National Coalition, Swedish People's Party and the Green League, Matti Vanhanen continuing as the Prime Minister.