Discharge of the office

The President is available for the performance of his or her functions at all times. There are no specified working hours nor an annual leave.

Incapacity and substitution

If the President is unable to perform official duties, these are performed by the Prime Minister or, if the Prime Minister is also incapacitated, by the Minister acting as Deputy Prime Minister.

The longest periods of substitution have been due to illness (1927, 1940, 1945-1946, and 1981-1982). Most instances of substitution before 1991 were because it was considered that the President was prevented from performing official functions while travelling abroad. This practice was abandoned with effect from the beginning of 1992.

The President may not delegate functions to anyone else. Exceptions to this rule are the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, which the President may entrust to another Finnish citizen, and the formal opening and closing of the Åland Assembly, which may be performed on the President’s behalf by the Governor of Åland.

Annual compensation

The President's annual compensation is set in a special Act of Parliament and remains in effect until Parliament decides to change it. The President’s annual salary is €126,000, and the amount provided for expenses is €171,000 euro. In addition to this the President is entitled to a residence, the maintenance, heating, lighting and interior decoration of which as well as the necessary personnel are paid for out of State funds. The President’s spouse receives no remuneration or other benefits by virtue of that position.

Between 1919 and 1999 the President’s remuneration was stipulated separately in an Act of Parliament prior to each term of office, but since 1 March 2000 it can be reviewed, following the same procedure, at any time in the course of a term.

The President’s salary and housing benefits as well as the President’s pension and the family pension received by the spouse are tax-free. Other income or wealth are subject to tax in the normal way.

Pension

The President’s pension is likewise set in an Act of Parliament. The President’s full pension is 60 per cent of the salary, i.e. €75,600 per annum.This sum is paid to a person who has served for at least six years. For each full year of service less than this, there is a reduction of one-sixth, but the minimum pension is not less than half of the full amount.

In addition, the State may bear the costs of providing a retired President with a suitable residence at a moderate rent, provide suitable separate premises for writing and archiving work and furnish security, secretarial and other corresponding services within the constraints of the State budget.

The spouse of the President does not receive a pension by virtue of that position, but is entitled to a family pension amounting to 50 per cent of the President’s pension.