List of prime ministers of Finland

This is a list of prime ministers of Finland since the establishment of that office in 1917.

History

In 1918, the Finnish Senate was transformed into the Finnish Government, and the position of Vice-Chairman of the Economic Division of the Senate was transformed into that of a Prime Minister. Kesäranta (in Swedish Villa Bjälbo), located in the Meilahti neighborhood of Helsinki, has been the official residence of the prime minister of Finland since 1919.

Since its independence (declared on 6 December 1917), Finland has had 75 cabinets, including the current one, the longest lasting being the cabinet of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, lasting 1,469 days.

Before the 1980s cabinets tended to be short-lived: the president was the most important political figure and he had the right to form a new cabinet whenever he wanted. From the 1980s onwards cabinets have tended to serve full terms (although the prime minister may have changed midterm in a few cases, most of the other cabinet has remained nearly unchanged) and the prime minister has become more powerful a figure than the president. Under the current constitution, the prime minister is chosen by the Parliament and only appointed by the president.

List of prime ministers

Finnish cabinets and prime ministers are numbered sequentially. A prime minister can serve as the head of multiple cabinets. For example, Matti Vanhanen is both the 39th and the 40th prime minister.

№		Prime Minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party		Election	Coalition	Cabinet
1	Pehr Evind Svinhufvud	Svinhuvud, Per EvindPehr Evind Svinhufvud (1861–1944)	27 November 1917	27 May 1918			Young Finnish	1917	SP–NSP–ML–RKP (Minority)	1. Svinhufvud I
2		Paasikivi, Juho KustiJuho Kusti Paasikivi (1870–1956)	27 May 1918	27 November 1918			Finnish	—	SP/KOK–NSP/ED–ML–RKP (Minority)	2. Paasikivi I
3		Ingman, LauriLauri Ingman (1868–1934)	27 November 1918	17 April 1919			National Coalition	—	KOK–ED–RKP	3. Ingman I (Majority)
4		Castrén, KaarloKaarlo Castrén (1860–1938)	17 April 1919	15 August 1919			National Progressive	1919	ML–ED–RKP	4. K.Castrén (Minority)
5		Vennola, JuhoJuho Vennola (1872–1938)	15 August 1919	15 March 1920			National Progressive	—	ML–ED	5. Vennola I (Minority)
6	Rafael Erich	Erich, RafaelRafael Erich (1879–1946)	15 March 1920	9 April 1921			National Coalition	—	KOK–ML–ED–RKP	6. Erich (Majority)
(5)		Vennola, JuhoJuho Vennola (1872–1938)	9 April 1921	2 June 1922			National Progressive	—	ML–ED	7. Vennola II (Minority)
7		Cajander, AimoAimo Cajander (1879–1943)	2 June 1922	14 November 1922			Independent	1922	Caretaker government	8. Cajander I
8		Kallio, KyöstiKyösti Kallio (1873–1940)	14 November 1922	18 January 1924			Agrarian	—	ML–ED (Minority)	9. Kallio I
(7)		Cajander, AimoAimo Cajander (1879–1943)	18 January 1924	31 May 1924			Independent	-	Caretaker government	10. Cajander II
(3)		Ingman, LauriLauri Ingman (1868–1934)	31 May 1924	31 March 1925			National Coalition	1924	KOK–ML–ED–RKP (Majority)	11. Ingman II
9		Tulenheimo, AnttiAntti Tulenheimo (1879–1952)	31 March 1925	31 December 1925			National Coalition	—	KOK–ML (Minority)	12. Tulenheimo
(8)		Kallio, KyöstiKyösti Kallio (1873–1940)	31 December 1925	13 December 1926			Agrarian	—	ML–KOK (Minority)	13. Kallio II
10		Tanner, VäinöVäinö Tanner (1881–1966)	13 December 1926	17 December 1927			Social Democratic	—	SDP (Minority)	14. Tanner
11		Sunila, JuhoJuho Sunila (1875–1936)	17 December 1927	22 December 1928			Agrarian	1927	ML (Minority)	15. Sunila I
12		Mantere, OskariOskari Mantere (1874–1942)	22 December 1928	16 August 1929			National Progressive	—	ED (Minority)	16. Mantere
(8)		Kallio, KyöstiKyösti Kallio (1873–1940)	16 August 1929	4 July 1930			Agrarian	1929	ML (Minority)	17. Kallio III
(1)	Pehr Evind Svinhufvud	Svinhuvud, Per EvindPehr Evind Svinhufvud (1861–1944)	4 July 1930	18 February 1931			National Coalition	1930	ML–KOK–ED–RKP (Majority)	18. Svinhufvud II
(11)		Sunila, JuhoJuho Sunila (1875–1936)	21 March 1931	14 December 1932			Agrarian	—	ML–KOK–ED–RKP (Majority)	19. Sunila II
13		Kivimäki, Toivo MikaelToivo Mikael Kivimäki (1886–1968)	15 December 1932	7 October 1936			National Progressive	1933	ML–ED–RKP (Minority)	20. Kivimäki
(8)		Kallio, KyöstiKyösti Kallio (1873–1940)	7 October 1936	17 February 1937			Agrarian	1936	ML–ED (Minority)	21. Kallio IV
(7)		Cajander, AimoAimo Cajander (1879–1943)	12 March 1937	1 December 1939			National Progressive	1939	SDP–ML–ED–RKP (Majority)	22. Cajander
14		Ryti, RistoRisto Ryti (1889–1956)	1 December 1939	19 December 1940			National Progressive	— —	SDP–ML–ED–RKP (Majority) SDP–ML–KOK–ED–RKP (Majority)	23. Ryti I 24. Ryti II
15		Rangell, Johan WilhelmJohan Wilhelm Rangell (1894–1982)	3 January 1941	5 March 1943			National Progressive	—	SDP–ML–KOK–RKP–ED–IKL (Majority)	25. Rangell
16	Edwin Linkomies	Linkomies, EdwinEdwin Linkomies (1894–1963)	5 March 1943	8 August 1944			National Coalition	—	KOK–SDP–ML–RKP–ED (Majority)	26. Linkomies
17	Antti Hackzell	Hackzell, AnttiAntti Hackzell (1881–1946)	8 August 1944	21 September 1944			Independent	—	KOK–SDP–ML–RKP–ED (Majority)	27. Hackzell
18		Castrén, UrhoUrho Castrén (1886–1965)	21 September 1944	17 November 1944			National Coalition	—	KOK–SDP–ML–RKP–ED (Majority)	28. U.Castrén
(2)		Paasikivi, Juho KustiJuho Kusti Paasikivi (1870–1956)	17 November 1944	9 March 1946			National Coalition	— 1945	SDP–SKDL–ML–KOK–RKP–ED (Majority) SDP–SKDL–ML–ED–RKP (Majority)	29. Paasikivi II 30. Paasikivi III
19		Pekkala, MaunoMauno Pekkala (1890–1952)	26 March 1946	29 July 1948			People's Democratic	—	SKDL–SDP–ML–RKP (Majority)	31. Pekkala
20		Fagerholm, Karl-AugustKarl-August Fagerholm (1901–1984)	29 July 1948	17 March 1950			Social Democratic	1948	SDP (Minority)	32. Fagerholm I
21	Urho Kekkonen	Kekkonen, UrhoUrho Kekkonen (1900–1986)	17 March 1950	17 November 1953			Agrarian	— — 1951 —	ML–RKP–ED (Minority) ML–SDP–RKP–ED (Majority) ML–SDP–RKP (Majority) ML–RKP (Minority)	33. Kekkonen I 34. Kekkonen II 35. Kekkonen III 36. Kekkonen IV
22		Tuomioja, SakariSakari Tuomioja (1911–1964)	17 November 1953	5 May 1954			Independent	—	Caretaker government	37. Tuomioja
23		Törngren, RalfRalf Törngren (1899–1961)	5 May 1954	20 October 1954			Swedish People's	1954	SDP–ML–RKP (Majority)	38. Törngren
(21)	Urho Kekkonen	Kekkonen, UrhoUrho Kekkonen (1900–1986)	20 October 1954	3 March 1956			Agrarian	—	ML–SDP (Majority)	39. Kekkonen V
(20)		Fagerholm, Karl-AugustKarl-August Fagerholm (1901–1984)	3 March 1956	27 May 1957			Social Democratic	—	SDP–ML–RKP (Majority)	40. Fagerholm II
24		Sukselainen, V. J.V. J. Sukselainen (1906–1995)	27 May 1957	29 November 1957			Agrarian	—	ML–RKP–KP–TPSL (Majority)	41. Sukselainen I
25		Fieandt, Rainer vonRainer von Fieandt (1890–1972)	29 November 1957	26 April 1958			Independent	—	Caretaker government	42. von Fieandt
26	Reino Kuuskoski	Kuuskoski, ReinoReino Kuuskoski (1907–1965)	26 April 1958	29 August 1958			Independent	—	Caretaker government	43. Kuuskoski
(20)		Fagerholm, Karl-AugustKarl-August Fagerholm (1901–1984)	29 August 1958	13 January 1959			Social Democratic	1958	SDP–ML–KOK–RKP–KP (Majority)	44. Fagerholm III
(24)		Sukselainen, V. J.V. J. Sukselainen (1906–1995)	13 January 1959	14 July 1961			Agrarian	—	ML–RKP (Minority)	45. Sukselainen II
27		Miettunen, MarttiMartti Miettunen (1907–2002)	14 July 1961	13 April 1962			Agrarian	—	ML (Minority)	46. Miettunen I
28	Ahti Karjalainen	Karjalainen, AhtiAhti Karjalainen (1923–1990)	13 April 1962	18 December 1963			Agrarian	1962	ML–KOK–RKP–KP–TPSL (Majority)	47. Karjalainen I
29	Reino R. Lehto	Lehto, Reino RagnarReino R. Lehto (1898–1966)	18 December 1963	12 September 1964			Independent	—	Caretaker government	48. Lehto
30		Virolainen, JohannesJohannes Virolainen (1914–2000)	12 September 1964	27 May 1966			Agrarian	—	ML–KOK–RKP–KP (Majority)	49. Virolainen
31		Paasio, RafaelRafael Paasio (1903–1980)	27 May 1966	22 March 1968			Social Democratic	1966	SDP–KESK–SKDL–TPSL (Majority)	50. Paasio I
32	Mauno Koivisto	Koivisto, MaunoMauno Koivisto (1923–2017)	22 March 1968	14 May 1970			Social Democratic	—	SDP–KESK–SKDL–TPSL–RKP (Majority)	51. Koivisto I
33	Teuvo Aura	Aura, TeuvoTeuvo Aura (1912–1999)	14 May 1970	15 July 1970			Independent	—	Caretaker government	52. Aura I
(28)	Ahti Karjalainen	Karjalainen, AhtiAhti Karjalainen (1923–1990)	15 July 1970	29 October 1971			Centre	1970	KESK–SDP–SKDL–RKP–LKP (Majority)	53. Karjalainen II
(33)	Teuvo Aura	Aura, TeuvoTeuvo Aura (1912–1999)	29 October 1971	23 February 1972			Independent	—	Caretaker government	54. Aura II
(31)		Paasio, RafaelRafael Paasio (1903–1980)	23 February 1972	4 September 1972			Social Democratic	1972	SDP (Minority)	55. Paasio II
34	Kalevi Sorsa	Sorsa, KaleviKalevi Sorsa (1930–2004)	4 September 1972	13 June 1975			Social Democratic	—	SDP–KESK–RKP–LKP (Majority)	56. Sorsa I
35	Keijo Liinamaa	Liinamaa, KeijoKeijo Liinamaa (1929–1980)	13 June 1975	30 November 1975			Independent	—	Caretaker government	57. Liinamaa
(27)		Miettunen, MarttiMartti Miettunen (1907–2002)	30 November 1975	15 May 1977			Centre	1975 —	KESK–RKP–LKP (Minority)	58. Miettunen II 59. Miettunen III (Majority)
(34)	Kalevi Sorsa	Sorsa, KaleviKalevi Sorsa (1930–2004)	15 May 1977	26 May 1979			Social Democratic	—	SDP–KESK–SKDL–RKP–LKP (Majority)	60. Sorsa II
(32)	Mauno Koivisto	Koivisto, MaunoMauno Koivisto (1923–2017)	26 May 1979	26 January 1982			Social Democratic	1979	SDP–KESK–SKDL–RKP (Majority)	61. Koivisto II
(34)	Kalevi Sorsa	Sorsa, KaleviKalevi Sorsa (1930–2004)	19 February 1982	30 April 1987			Social Democratic	— 1983	SDP–KESK–SKDL–RKP–LKP SDP–KESK–RKP–SMP (Majority)	62. Sorsa III 63. Sorsa IV
36		Holkeri, HarriHarri Holkeri (1937–2011)	30 April 1987	26 April 1991			National Coalition	1987	KOK–SDP–RKP–SMP (Majority)	64. Holkeri
37		Aho, EskoEsko Aho (born 1954)	26 April 1991	13 April 1995			Centre	1991	KESK–KOK–RKP–KD (Majority)	65. Aho
38		Lipponen, PaavoPaavo Lipponen (born 1941)	13 April 1995	17 April 2003			Social Democratic	1995 1999	SDP–KOK–RKP–VAS–VIHR (Majority)	66. Lipponen I 67. Lipponen II
39		Jäätteenmäki, AnneliAnneli Jäätteenmäki (born 1955)	17 April 2003	24 June 2003			Centre	2003	KESK–SDP–RKP (Majority)	68. Jäätteenmäki
40	Matti Vanhanen	Vanhanen, MattiMatti Vanhanen (born 1955)	24 June 2003	22 June 2010			Centre	— 2007	KESK–SDP–RKP (Majority) (2003 – 2007) KESK–KOK–RKP–VIHR (Majority) (2007 – 2010)	69. Vanhanen I 70. Vanhanen II
41	Mari Kiviniemi	Kiviniemi, MariMari Kiviniemi (born 1968)	22 June 2010	22 June 2011			Centre	—	KESK–KOK–RKP–VIHR (Majority)	71. Kiviniemi
42	Jyrki Katainen	Katainen, JyrkiJyrki Katainen (born 1971)	22 June 2011	24 June 2014			National Coalition	2011	KOK–SDP–RKP–VAS–VIHR–KD (Majority)	72. Katainen
43		Stubb, AlexanderAlexander Stubb (born 1968)	24 June 2014	29 May 2015			National Coalition	—	KOK–SDP–RKP–VIHR–KD (Majority)	73. Stubb
44		Sipilä, JuhaJuha Sipilä (born 1961)	29 May 2015	6 June 2019			Centre	2015	KESK–PS–KOK (Majority)	74. Sipilä
45	Antti Rinne	Rinne, AnttiAntti Rinne (born 1962)	6 June 2019	10 December 2019			Social Democratic	2019	SDP–KESK–VIHR–VAS–RKP (Majority)	75. Rinne
46	Sanna Marin	Marin, SannaSanna Marin (born 1985)	10 December 2019	Incumbent			Social Democratic	—	SDP–KESK–VIHR–VAS–RKP (Majority)	76. Marin

Interim prime ministers

	Name (Born-Died)	Portrait	Term of office		Party	Note
	Juho Vennola (1872–1938)		18 February 1931	21 March 1931	National Progressive Party	Substitute to Svinhufvud, who became President of Finland
	Rudolf Holsti (1881–1945)		17 February 1937	12 March 1937	National Progressive Party	Substitute to Kyösti Kallio, who became President of Finland
	Rudolf Walden (1878–1946)		27 March 1940	4 January 1941	Non-partisan	Substitute to Risto Ryti, who became President of Finland
	Carl Enckell (1876–1959)		9 March 1946	26 March 1946	Non-partisan	Substitute to Juho Kusti Paasikivi, who became President of Finland
	Eemil Luukka (1892–1970)		3 July 1961	14 July 1961	Agrarian League	Substitute to V.J Sukselainen who resigned from office
	Eino Uusitalo (1924–2015)		11 September 1981	19 February 1982	Centre Party	Substitute to Mauno Koivisto, who became first Acting President of Finland and later President of the Republic of Finland

List of living former prime ministers

[[Esko Aho (cropped).jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Esko Aho (1991–1995) (1954-05-20) 20 May 1954 ]] Esko Aho (1991–1995) (1954-05-20) 20 May 1954   [[Paavo Lipponen 2004.jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Paavo Lipponen (1995–2003) (1941-04-23) 23 April 1941 ]] Paavo Lipponen (1995–2003) (1941-04-23) 23 April 1941   [[Jäätteenmäki Anneli 2014-02-06 1.jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Anneli Jäätteenmäki (2003) (1955-02-11) 11 February 1955 ]] Anneli Jäätteenmäki (2003) (1955-02-11) 11 February 1955   [[2020-03-02 Matti Vanhanen.jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Matti Vanhanen (2003–2010) (1955-11-04) 4 November 1955 ]] Matti Vanhanen (2003–2010) (1955-11-04) 4 November 1955   [[Finlands statsminister, Nordiska radets session 201.jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Mari Kiviniemi (2010–2011) (1968-09-27) 27 September 1968 ]] Mari Kiviniemi (2010–2011) (1968-09-27) 27 September 1968   [[Jyrki Katainen A4.jpeg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Jyrki Katainen (2011–2014) (1971-10-14) 14 October 1971 ]] Jyrki Katainen (2011–2014) (1971-10-14) 14 October 1971   [[Alexander Stubb Oct, 2014.jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Alexander Stubb (2014–2015) (1968-04-01) 1 April 1968 ]] Alexander Stubb (2014–2015) (1968-04-01) 1 April 1968   [[Tallinn Digital Summit. Handshake Juha Sipilä (2017).jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Juha Sipilä (2015–2019) (1961-04-25) 25 April 1961 ]] Juha Sipilä (2015–2019) (1961-04-25) 25 April 1961   [[Finnish Council Presidency priorities debated in plenary (48308299127) (cropped).jpg|center|border|180x180px|alt=|Antti Rinne (2019) (1962-11-03) 3 November 1962 ]] Antti Rinne (2019) (1962-11-03) 3 November 1962

The most recent death of a former prime minister of Finland is that of Mauno Koivisto (1968–1970, 1979–1982) on 12 May 2017.

See also

• Politics of Finland
• Lists of incumbents
• President of Finland
  • List of presidents of Finland
• Senate of Finland

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Official site
• From Senate to independent Government