Speakers of the Parliament of Finland

The Speaker of the Parliament of Finland (Finnish

Finnish language

Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...

Eduskunnan puhemies, Swedish

Swedish language

Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...

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.

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

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....

.

An interim speaker is elected for the duration of government formation talks.

List of Speakers of the Parliament of Finland

Name	Term in Office	Party
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud Pehr Evind Svinhufvud Pehr Evind Svinhufvud af Qvalstad , December 15, 1861 – February 29, 1944) was the third President of Finland from 1931 to 1937. Serving as a lawyer, judge, and politician in the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland, he played a major role in the movement for Finnish independence...	1907–1912	Young Finnish Party Young Finnish Party The Young Finnish Party or Constitutional-Fennoman Party was a liberal and nationalist political party in the Grand Duchy of Finland...
Oskari Tokoi Oskari Tokoi Antti Oskari Tokoi was a Finnish socialist who served as a leader of the Social Democratic Party of Finland. During the short-lived Revolution of 1918, Tokoi participated as a leading figure in the revolutionary government....	1913	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg was a Finnish jurist and academic, who played a central role in the drafting of the Constitution of Finland in 1919. He was the first President of Finland and a nationalist liberal.-Early life:...	1914	Young Finnish Party Young Finnish Party The Young Finnish Party or Constitutional-Fennoman Party was a liberal and nationalist political party in the Grand Duchy of Finland...
Kullervo Manner Kullervo Manner Kullervo Achilles Manner was a Finnish journalist and politician. He was a member of the Finnish parliament, serving as its Speaker in 1917. He was also chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Finland between 1917–1918. During the Finnish Civil War, he led the Finnish People's Delegation...	1917	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Johannes Lundson Johannes Lundson Johannes Lundson was a Finnish politician from Young Finnish Party.Lundson was speaker of the parliament in 1917 and was chairing the session on 6 December 1917 when the declaration of independence was approved .- References :...	1917	Young Finnish Party Young Finnish Party The Young Finnish Party or Constitutional-Fennoman Party was a liberal and nationalist political party in the Grand Duchy of Finland...
Lauri Ingman Lauri Ingman Lauri Ingman was a Finnish theologian, bishop and politician. From 1916 to 1930 he was the professor of practical theology in the University of Helsinki...	1918	Finnish Party Finnish Party The Finnish Party was a Fennoman conservative political party in the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland and independent Finland. Born out of Finland's language strife in the 1860s, the party sought to improve the position of the Finnish language in Finnish society...
Ernst Nevanlinna Ernst Nevanlinna Ernst Nevanlinna was a politician, professor of economics in the University of Turku and editor in chief of Uusi Suomi newspaper from 1921 to 1922....	1918	Finnish Party Finnish Party The Finnish Party was a Fennoman conservative political party in the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland and independent Finland. Born out of Finland's language strife in the 1860s, the party sought to improve the position of the Finnish language in Finnish society...
Paavo Virkkunen Paavo Virkkunen Paavo Virkkunen was a Finnish conservative politician.He was a member of the Finnish Party and was elected in the parliament in 1914, but joined the National Coalition Party in 1919 . He was five times the Speaker of the Parliament...	1918	Finnish Party Finnish Party The Finnish Party was a Fennoman conservative political party in the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland and independent Finland. Born out of Finland's language strife in the 1860s, the party sought to improve the position of the Finnish language in Finnish society...
Lauri Kristian Relander Lauri Kristian Relander Lauri Kristian Relander was the second President of Finland . A prominent member of the Agrarian League, he served as a member of Parliament, and as Speaker, before his election as President....	1919–1920	Agrarian League
Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio was the fourth President of Finland . He was a prominent leader of the Agrarian League, and served as Prime Minister four times and Speaker of the Parliament six times.-Early life:...	1920	Agrarian League
Wäinö Wuolijoki Wäinö Wuolijoki Wäinö Wuolijoki was a Finnish politician from Social Democratic Party of Finland....	1921	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio was the fourth President of Finland . He was a prominent leader of the Agrarian League, and served as Prime Minister four times and Speaker of the Parliament six times.-Early life:...	1922	Agrarian League
Wäinö Wuolijoki Wäinö Wuolijoki Wäinö Wuolijoki was a Finnish politician from Social Democratic Party of Finland....	1922	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Paavo Virkkunen Paavo Virkkunen Paavo Virkkunen was a Finnish conservative politician.He was a member of the Finnish Party and was elected in the parliament in 1914, but joined the National Coalition Party in 1919 . He was five times the Speaker of the Parliament...	1923	National Coalition Party
Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio was the fourth President of Finland . He was a prominent leader of the Agrarian League, and served as Prime Minister four times and Speaker of the Parliament six times.-Early life:...	1924–1925	Agrarian League
Wäinö Wuolijoki Wäinö Wuolijoki Wäinö Wuolijoki was a Finnish politician from Social Democratic Party of Finland....	1925	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Paavo Virkkunen Paavo Virkkunen Paavo Virkkunen was a Finnish conservative politician.He was a member of the Finnish Party and was elected in the parliament in 1914, but joined the National Coalition Party in 1919 . He was five times the Speaker of the Parliament...	1926	National Coalition Party
Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio was the fourth President of Finland . He was a prominent leader of the Agrarian League, and served as Prime Minister four times and Speaker of the Parliament six times.-Early life:...	1927	Agrarian League
Paavo Virkkunen Paavo Virkkunen Paavo Virkkunen was a Finnish conservative politician.He was a member of the Finnish Party and was elected in the parliament in 1914, but joined the National Coalition Party in 1919 . He was five times the Speaker of the Parliament...	1928	National Coalition Party
Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio was the fourth President of Finland . He was a prominent leader of the Agrarian League, and served as Prime Minister four times and Speaker of the Parliament six times.-Early life:...	1929	Agrarian League
Paavo Virkkunen Paavo Virkkunen Paavo Virkkunen was a Finnish conservative politician.He was a member of the Finnish Party and was elected in the parliament in 1914, but joined the National Coalition Party in 1919 . He was five times the Speaker of the Parliament...	1929–1930	National Coalition Party
Juho Sunila Juho Sunila Johan Emil Sunila was a Finnish politician from the Agrarian League, the managing director of the agrarian finance board, and Prime Minister of Finland in two cabinets ....	1930	Agrarian League
Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio was the fourth President of Finland . He was a prominent leader of the Agrarian League, and served as Prime Minister four times and Speaker of the Parliament six times.-Early life:...	1930–1936	Agrarian League
Väinö Hakkila Väinö Hakkila Väinö Hakkila was a Finnish politician from Social Democratic Party of Finland.Hakkila was elected into Parliament for terms of 1919 – 1945 and 1948 – 1957. He was deputy speaker from 1929 to 1932 and speaker of the parliament from 1936 to 1945, including wartime period...	1936–1944	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland . Fagerholm became chairman of the Social Democrats after the armistice in the Continuation War...	1945–1947	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Urho Kekkonen Urho Kekkonen Urho Kaleva Kekkonen , was a Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland and later as the eighth President of Finland . Kekkonen continued the “active neutrality” policy of his predecessor President Juho Kusti Paasikivi, a doctrine which came to be known as the “Paasikivi–Kekkonen...	1948–1950	Agrarian League
Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland . Fagerholm became chairman of the Social Democrats after the armistice in the Continuation War...	1950–1956	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Vieno Johannes Sukselainen	1956–1957	Agrarian League
Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland . Fagerholm became chairman of the Social Democrats after the armistice in the Continuation War...	1957	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Vieno Johannes Sukselainen	1958	Agrarian League
Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland . Fagerholm became chairman of the Social Democrats after the armistice in the Continuation War...	1958–1961	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Kauno Kleemola Kauno Kleemola Kauno Antero Kleemola was a Finnish politician from the Agrarian League.Kleemola was a farmer from Central Ostrobothnia and as politician an advocate of Central Ostrobothnia in Helsinki. He was speaker of the parliament 1962-1965 and minister in several cabinets of Kekkonen, and hold the title of...	1962–1965	Agrarian League / Centre Party
Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland . Fagerholm became chairman of the Social Democrats after the armistice in the Continuation War...	1965	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Rafael Paasio Rafael Paasio Kustaa Rafael Paasio was a prominent Finnish politician and editor from Social Democratic Party. He served as Prime Minister of Finland twice ....	1966	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Johannes Virolainen Johannes Virolainen Johannes Virolainen was a Finnish politician.Virolainen was born near Viipuri. After the Continuation War Virolainen moved to Lohja, but he remained one of the leaders of the evacuated Karelians, and never gave up the hope that Soviet Union and later Russia would return Finnish Karelia to Finland...	1966–1968	Centre Party
Vieno Johannes Sukselainen	1968–1969	Centre Party
Rafael Paasio Rafael Paasio Kustaa Rafael Paasio was a prominent Finnish politician and editor from Social Democratic Party. He served as Prime Minister of Finland twice ....	1970–1972	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Vieno Johannes Sukselainen	1972–1975	Centre Party
Veikko Helle Veikko Helle Veikko Kullervo Helle was a Finnish politician representing the Social Democrats.Helle was originally a carpenter by trade and followed his father into municipal politics and later into the parliament. He was elected in the 1936 municipal elections and he served as a member of parliament from 1951...	1976–1977	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Ahti Pekkala Ahti Pekkala Ahti Pekkala is a Finnish politician from the Centre Party.Pekkala worked as a manager in a bank in Haapavesi 1952–1985. He was elected to the parliament in 1970 and was a deputy chairman of Centre Party from 1971 to 1986, when he left the parliament. He served as a deputy speaker of the...	1978–1979	Centre Party
Johannes Virolainen Johannes Virolainen Johannes Virolainen was a Finnish politician.Virolainen was born near Viipuri. After the Continuation War Virolainen moved to Lohja, but he remained one of the leaders of the evacuated Karelians, and never gave up the hope that Soviet Union and later Russia would return Finnish Karelia to Finland...	1979–1982	Centre Party
Erkki Pystynen Erkki Pystynen Erkki Pystynen is a Finnish politician from the National Coalition Party.Pystynen was a professor in Tampere University. He was elected to the parliament in 1975 and served as the speaker from 1983 to 1986. He left the Parliament in 1991.- References :...	1983–1986	National Coalition Party
Ilkka Suominen Ilkka Suominen Ilkka Olavi Suominen is a Finnish politician from the National Coalition Party.He was member of the parliament from 1970 to 1975 and from 1983 to 1994. Suominen was the chairman of the National Coalition Party 1979–1991 and twice the speaker of the parliament 1987 and 1991-1994...	1987	National Coalition Party
Matti Ahde Matti Ahde Matti Allan Ahde is a Finnish politician from the Social Democratic Party.He was member of the parliament from 1970 to 1990, when he left to become CEO of state monopoly Veikkaus. Ahde hold minister posts in Sorsa cabinets 1982-1987 and was elected to the position of the speaker of the parliament...	1987–1988	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Kalevi Sorsa Kalevi Sorsa Taisto Kalevi Sorsa was a Finnish politician who was Prime Minister of Finland four times: 1972–1975, 1977–1979, 1982–1983 and 1983–1987 and at the date of his death still held the Finnish record of most days of incumbency as prime minister...	1989–1990	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Esko Aho Esko Aho Esko Tapani Aho is a statesman and former Prime Minister of Finland.-Early life and career:Aho was born in Veteli, Finland. Prior to attending university, he began a career in politics. From 1974 to 1979, he was Chairman of the Finnish Centre Youth, which had before him grown many of his...	Apr 1991	Centre Party
Ilkka Suominen Ilkka Suominen Ilkka Olavi Suominen is a Finnish politician from the National Coalition Party.He was member of the parliament from 1970 to 1975 and from 1983 to 1994. Suominen was the chairman of the National Coalition Party 1979–1991 and twice the speaker of the parliament 1987 and 1991-1994...	1991–1993	National Coalition Party
Riitta Uosukainen Riitta Uosukainen Riitta Maria Uosukainen is a Finnish politician and former Member of Parliament. She is one of the eight people to gain the highest honorary title, valtioneuvos, given by the President....	1994	National Coalition Party
Paavo Lipponen Paavo Lipponen Paavo Tapio Lipponen is a Finnish politician and former reporter. He was Prime Minister of Finland from 1995 to 2003, and Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Finland from 1993 to 2005...	Mar-Apr 1995	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Riitta Uosukainen Riitta Uosukainen Riitta Maria Uosukainen is a Finnish politician and former Member of Parliament. She is one of the eight people to gain the highest honorary title, valtioneuvos, given by the President....	1995–1999	National Coalition Party
Jukka Mikkola Jukka Mikkola Jukka Mikkola is a Finnish politician from the Social Democratic Party. He is a lawyer and has the title Master of Laws....	Mar-Apr 1999	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Riitta Uosukainen Riitta Uosukainen Riitta Maria Uosukainen is a Finnish politician and former Member of Parliament. She is one of the eight people to gain the highest honorary title, valtioneuvos, given by the President....	1999–2003	National Coalition Party
Anneli Jäätteenmäki Anneli Jäätteenmäki Anneli Tuulikki Jäätteenmäki, Master of Laws was the first female Prime Minister of Finland, in office from 17 April 2003 to 24 June 2003....	Mar-Apr 2003	Centre Party
Liisa Jaakonsaari Liisa Jaakonsaari Liisa Anneli Jaakonsaari is a Finnish Social Democratic politician. She was a city councillor in Oulu from 1972 until 1995...	15-22, April 2003	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Paavo Lipponen Paavo Lipponen Paavo Tapio Lipponen is a Finnish politician and former reporter. He was Prime Minister of Finland from 1995 to 2003, and Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Finland from 1993 to 2005...	2003–2007	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
Timo Kalli Timo Kalli Timo Juhani Kalli is a Finnish politician from the Centre Party. He is a farmer.He has been a member of the parliament since 1991 and hold the position of the speaker of the parliament for a short term in 2007 following the general elections...	Mar-Apr 2007	Centre Party
Sauli Niinistö Sauli Niinistö Sauli Väinämö Niinistö is a Finnish politician from National Coalition Party. He is also President of the Football Association of Finland. A lawyer by training, he was Minister of Finance from 1996 to 2003 and the National Coalition Party candidate in the 2006 presidential election...	2007-2011	National Coalition Party
Ben Zyskowicz Ben Zyskowicz Ben Berl Zyskowicz is a Finnish politician and member of parliament. Zyskowicz was chairman of the Finnish National Coalition Party's parliamentary group from 1993 to 2006 and has been a member of parliament for the National Coalition Party since 1979...	Apr-Jun 2011	National Coalition Party
Eero Heinäluoma Eero Heinäluoma Eero Olavi Heinäluoma is the current Speaker of the Parliament of Finland. A former chairman of the Finnish Social Democratic Party, he was replaced in the party's leadership by Jutta Urpilainen in June 2008....	2011-	Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party of Finland The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...

List of Speakers of the Parliament of Finland

See also