Minister of Defence (Finland)

Minister of Defence of the Republic of Finland
Puolustusministeri
Försvarsminister
Minister of Defence flag
Incumbent
Jussi Niinistö
since 29 May 2015
Ministry of Defence
Member of Cabinet
Seat Helsinki, Finland
Nominator Prime Minister
Appointer President of the Republic
Term length No fixed term
up to 4 years de facto
Formation 1918
First holder Wilhelm Thesleff
Website www.defmin.fi/english

The Minister of Defence (Finnish: puolustusministeri, Swedish: försvarsminister) is a member of the Finnish Council of State. As the head of the Ministry of Defence, the minister is responsible for the administration of national defence. The ministry is headquartered in Helsinki. The current Minister of Defence is Jussi Niinistö.

From June to November 1918 the post was called Chief of the War Department, and from then until 1922 the post was called the Minister of War.

The President of the Republic is the commander-in-chief of the Finnish Defence Forces. The commander of the military forces is the Chief of Defence.

Ministry Offices

Finnish Ministry of Defence Offices consists of two wings:

  • South Makasiinikatu 8 since - Built by CL Engel as barracks for the Finnish Guard in 1922 and destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt by retaining the original walls from 1954-1956 and used as Defense Headquarters since 1956[1]
  • Fabiansgatan 2 - newer wing was built in 1961 by Finnish architects Viljo Revell and Heikki Castrén.

Previous Ministry Offices

  • Eteläesplanadi 10 - 1918-1921 it was located here and now home to Ministry of Justice
  • Korkeavuorenkatu 21 (Ohrana House) - relocated in 1921 and here until beginning of World War II; now Finnish Border Guard Headquarters
  • Snellmaninkatu 4-6 - moved here 1941 to 1956 which now home to Finnish Financial Supervision Authority

List of Ministers of Defence

[2] [3]

Minister Party In office
Vilhelm Thesleff Non-partisan 27.5.1918 – 27.11.1918
Rudolf Walden Non-partisan 27.3.1918 – 15.8.1919
Karl Emil Berg Non-partisan 15.8.1919 – 15.3.1920
Bruno Jalander Non-partisan 15.3.1920 – 9.4.1921
Onni Hämäläinen Non-partisan 9.4.1921 – 3.9.1921
Bruno Jalander Non-partisan 3.9.1921 – 22.6.1923
Kyösti Kallio Agrarian League 22.6.1923 – 16.8.1923
Vilho Nenonen Non-partisan 16.8.1923 – 18.1.1924
Viktor Henrik Schvindt Non-partisan 18.1.1924 – 11.3.1924
Ivar Aminoff Non-partisan 11.3.1924 – 31.5.1924
Lauri Malmberg Non-partisan 31.5.1924 – 31.3.1925
Aleksander Lampén National Coalition Party 31.3.1925 – 31.12.1925
Leonard Hjelmman National Coalition Party 31.12.1925 – 13.12.1926
Kaarlo Heinonen Social Democratic Party 13.12.1926 – 17.12.1927
Jalo Lahdensuo Agrarian League 17.12.1927 – 22.12.1928
Aimo Kaarlo Cajander National Progressive Party 22.12.1928 – 16.8.1929
Juho Niukkanen Agrarian League 16.8.1929 – 4.7.1930
Albin Manner Agrarian League 10.7.1930 – 21.3.1931
Jalo Lahdensuo Agrarian League 21.3.1931 – 14.12.1932
Arvi Oksala Non-partisan 14.12.1932 – 12.3.1937
Juho Niukkanen Agrarian League 12.3.1937 – 27.3.1940
Rudolf Walden Non-partisan 27.3.1940 – 1.12.1944
Väinö Valve Non-partisan 1.12.1944 – 17.4.1945
Mauno Pekkala Finnish People's Democratic League 17.4.1945 – 27.3.1946
Yrjö Kallinen Social Democratic Party 27.3.1946 – 29.7.1948
Emil Skog Social Democratic Party 29.7.1948 – 17.3.1950
Kustaa Tiitu Agrarian League 17.3.1950 – 17.1.1951
Emil Skog Social Democratic Party 17.1.1951 – 9.7.1953
Kauno Kleemola Agrarian League 9.7.1953 – 17.11.1953
Päiviö Hetemäki National Coalition Party 17.11.1953 – 5.5.1954
Emil Skog Social Democratic Party 5.5.1954 – 20.10.1954
Kauno Kleemola Agrarian League 3.3.1956 – 27.5.1957
Atte Pakkanen Agrarian League 27.5.1957 – 2.9.1957
Pekka Malinen People's Party 2.9.1957 – 29.11.1957
Kalle Lehmus Non-partisan 29.11.1957 – 26.4.1958
Edvard Björkenheim Non-partisan 26.4.1958 – 29.8.1958
Toivo Wiherheimo National Coalition Party 29.8.1958 – 13.1.1959
Leo Häppölä Agrarian League 13.1.1959 – 14.7.1961
Edvard Björkenheim Agrarian League 26.4.1958 – 29.8.1958
Arvo Pentti Agrarian League 13.4.1962 – 18.12.1963
Kaarlo Leinonen Non-partisan 18.12.1963 – 12.9.1964
Arvo Pentti Agrarian League 12.9.1964 – 27.5.1966
Sulo Suorttanen Centre Party 27.5.1966 – 14.5.1970
Arvo Pentti Non-partisan 14.5.1970 – 15.7.1970
Kristian Gestrin Swedish People's Party 15.7.1970 – 29.10.1971
Arvo Pentti Non-partisan 29.10.1971 – 23.2.1972
Sulo Hostila Social Democratic Party 23.2.1972 – 4.9.1972
Kristian Gestrin Swedish People's Party 4.9.1972 – 30.9.1974
Carl-Olaf Homén Swedish People's Party 1.10.1974 – 13.6.1975
Erkki Huurtamo Non-partisan 13.6.1975 – 30.11.1975
Ingvar S. Melin Swedish People's Party 30.11.1975 – 29.9.1976
Seppo Westerlund Liberal People's Party 29.9.1976 – 15.5.1977
Taisto Tähkämaa Centre Party 15.5.1977 – 26.5.1979
Lasse Äikäs Centre Party 26.5.1979 – 19.2.1982
Juhani Saukkonen Centre Party 19.2.1982 – 6.5.1983
Veikko Pihlajamäki Centre Party 6.5.1983 – 30.4.1987
Ole Norrback Swedish People's Party 30.4.1987 – 13.6.1990
Elisabeth Rehn Swedish People's Party 13.6.1990 – 1.1.1995
Jan-Erik Enestam Swedish People's Party 2.1.1995 – 13.4.1995
Anneli Taina National Coalition Party 13.4.1995 – 15.4.1999
Jan-Erik Enestam Swedish People's Party 15.4.1999 – 17.4.2003
Matti Vanhanen Centre Party 17.4.2003 – 24.6.2003
Seppo Kääriäinen Centre Party 24.6.2003 – 19.4.2007
Jyri Häkämies National Coalition Party 19.4.2007 – 22.6.2011
Stefan Wallin Swedish People's Party 22.6.2011 – 5.7.2012
Carl Haglund Swedish People's Party 5.7.2012 – 29.5.2015
Jussi Niinistö True Finns / Blue Reform 29.5.2015 –

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.defmin.fi/ministerio/puolustusministerio/historiaa (Finnish)
  2. ↑ "Council of State - Ministers of War". Valtioneuvosto.fi. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "Council of State - Ministers of Defence". Valtioneuvosto.fi. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.