Role of the Prime Minister

Election of the Prime Minister

 

The Prime Minister is elected by Parliament and then formally appointed by the President of the Republic. Before the Prime Minister’s election, the parties represented in the new Parliament negotiate on the political programme and composition of the Government. On the basis of these negotiations, and having heard the views of the Speaker of Parliament, the President informs Parliament of the nominee for Prime Minister.

 

The nominee is elected Prime Minister if supported by more than half the votes cast in an open vote by Parliament. If the nominee does not achieve the necessary majority, another nominee is put forward in accordance with the same procedure. If the second nominee also fails to receive the support of more than half the votes cast, the Prime Minister is elected by a third open vote in Parliament. In this event, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes is elected.

 

Prime Minister's responsibilities in brief

 

The Prime Minister directs the work of the Government and oversees the preparation and consideration of Government business. When the Prime Minister is prevented from attending to his or her duties, these are assumed by the minister designated to deputise for the Prime Minister, or if that minister is unavailable, by the Government's longest-serving minister.

 

Directing the work of the Government

 

The Prime Minister chairs plenary sessions of the Government, laying down session dates and the order of business. The Prime Minister may also require that a particular agenda item be presented to a government plenary session by a set date. In response to a proposal by the Prime Minister, or the minister presiding over the matter in question, the government plenary session may adopt a matter for its consideration. If a plenary session vote ends in a tie, the Prime Minister’s vote is considered decisive.

 

The Prime Minister chairs all statutory Cabinet Committees, namely the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, the Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs, the Cabinet Finance Committee and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy. He or she also chairs sessions of the Economic Council, the Research and Innovation Council and the Title Board. The Vanhanen Cabinet appointed the Information Society Council, which is also chaired by the Prime Minister.

 

Head of the Prime Minister's Office

 

The Prime Minister is head of the Prime Minister's Office, charged with ensuring that the activities of the Prime Minister and Government run smoothly in all circumstances. The Prime Minister's Office is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Government Programme and assisting the Prime Minister in the general management of Government activities. It also co-ordinates Finland’s EU policy and issues related to the development of the EU.

 

Political leadership of the Government

 

As the political leader of the Government, the Prime Minister is responsible for securing an agreement on Government policy among the various parties in Government. He or she is also responsible for co-ordinating Government work with that of Parliament.

 

The new Finnish Constitution, which came into force on 1 March 2000, strengthened the Prime Minister’s position.

 

Under the new Constitution, the President of the Republic may dissolve Parliament and call new elections only upon receipt of a reasoned request from the Prime Minister and having first consulted the party groups in Parliament. The President appoints other ministers of the Government in accordance with a proposal by the Prime Minister.

 

Standing in for the President

 

The Prime Minister stands in for the President of the Republic whenever the President is prevented from carrying out his or her duties. However, a statement by the President of the Republic, entered in the Government minutes in December 1991, ended the previous practice whereby the President was automatically considered unable to carry out his or her responsibilities during trips abroad.

 

In practice, the Prime Minister only stands in for the President when it is known in advance that the President will be abroad when decisions are made in presidential sessions of the Government, or if the necessity to take such decisions arises when the President is already abroad and unable to return to Finland to attend a session.