Speaker of the Parliament of Finland

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.

Speaker of Parliament of Finland
Eduskunnan puhemies Riksdagens talman
Incumbent Jussi Halla-aho since 21 June 2023
Parliament of Finland
Seat	Helsinki, Finland
Appointer	Parliament
Term length	One year
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Finland
Precursor	Speaker of the Diet of Finland
Formation	1907; 117 years ago (1907)
First holder	Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
Salary	€13,390 monthly[1]
Website	www.eduskunta.fi

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 (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 (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

• Parliament of Finland
• Diet of Finland
• Lantmarskalks of the Finnish House of Nobility

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