Provincial Governors of Finland
Encyclopedia
The Governor, Maaherra, or Landshövding, of a province of Finland
headed the activities of the State Provincial Office, Lääninhallitus, or Länsstyrelse until the end of 2009, when the provinces were abolished. The governors were appointed by the President
. Many former ministers including but not limited to Kaarlo Hillilä, Martti Miettunen, Hannele Pokka and Anneli Taina served as governors, since the post was regarded as prestigious enough for a retiring minister, but still politically neutral. The title of maaherra was also considered a personal title, such that once appointed, the title maaherra remained for life.
During the Swedish period (1634-1809) and the Russian period (1809-1917) the governor was a royal plenipotentiary, representing the sovereign, but with independence, the function was reversed: the governor represented his territory to the central government.
Provinces of Finland
The state of Finland consisted of six provinces between the years 1997 and 2009. The provincial authority was part of the central government's executive branch, not directly elected. The system was created in 1634, and its makeup was changed drastically in 1997, when the number of the provinces...
headed the activities of the State Provincial Office, Lääninhallitus, or Länsstyrelse until the end of 2009, when the provinces were abolished. The governors were appointed by the President
President of Finland
The President of the Republic of Finland is the nation's head of state. Under the Finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people of Finland for a term of six years....
. Many former ministers including but not limited to Kaarlo Hillilä, Martti Miettunen, Hannele Pokka and Anneli Taina served as governors, since the post was regarded as prestigious enough for a retiring minister, but still politically neutral. The title of maaherra was also considered a personal title, such that once appointed, the title maaherra remained for life.
During the Swedish period (1634-1809) and the Russian period (1809-1917) the governor was a royal plenipotentiary, representing the sovereign, but with independence, the function was reversed: the governor represented his territory to the central government.
Lapland
- Kaarlo Hillilä, 1938–1947
- Uuno Hannula, 1947–1958
- Martti MiettunenMartti MiettunenMartti Johannes Miettunen , was a politician in Finland. He was prime minister in 1961–1962 and 1975–1977.Miettunen was born in Simo...
, 1958–1973 - Asko Oinas, 1974–1994
- Hannele PokkaHannele PokkaPirkko Hannele Pokka is the former governor of the province of Lapland. She was the fifth Governor of Lapland and the first woman to hold the office....
, 1994–2008 - Timo E. Korva, 2008–2009
Oulu
- Edvard Furuhjelm, 1901–1903
- Otto Savander, 1903–1905
- Guido Gadolin, 1905–1911
- Hjalmar Langinkoski, 1911–1915
- Axel Fabian af Enehjelm, 1915–1917
- Matts von Nandelstadh, 1917–1925
- Eero Yrjö Pehkonen, 1925–1948
- Kaarle Nikolai Määttä, 1949–1967
- Niilo Mikael Ryhtä, 1967–1973
- Erkki Antero Haukipuro, 1973–1986
- Ahti Antti Johannes Pekkala, 1986–1991
- Eino Olavi Siuruainen, 1991–2009
Åland
- Hjalmar von Bondsdorff, 1918
- William Isaksson, 1918–1922
- Lars Wilhelm Fagerlund, 1922–1937
- Torsten Rothberg, 1938
- Ruben Österberg, 1939–1945
- Herman Koroleff, 1945–1953
- Tor Brenning, 1954–1972
- Martin Isaksson, 1972–1982
- Henrik Gustavsson, 1982–1999
- Peter Lindbäck, 1999–2009
See also
- Governor General of Finland
- Governor-General in the Swedish Realm
- County Governors of Sweden