President of the Republic appointed new Government

President Tarja Halonen and new Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi at the Presidential Palace. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen appointed a new Government on Tuesday, 22 June 2010. The Government headed by Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi is Finland's 71st. At a presidential session President Halonen released the members of Matti Vanhanen's Government from their duties and appointed the new ministers to their posts. After the appointment and an organizational session, the members of the outgoing and incoming Governments paid a visit to the Presidential Palace.

President Halonen thanked resigning Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen for good cooperation during his seven years as Prime Minister. "Your term as Prime Minister is one of the longest in our history. In this demanding task you have proved to be a tough and conscientious leader who has the ability to reconcile different people's opinions. Knowing how to make compromises is important in modern society and certainly in a multi-party Government as well," President Halonen said.

According to President Halonen, the Vanhanen Government's term was filled with challenges related to the economic situation, energy solutions and pension policy, among other things.

President Halonen encouraged the new Prime Minister and Government to continue working to meet national and international challenges. "Achieving sustainable and socially just development requires broad cooperation among different actors in Finland and internationally. There is no time to lose. The approaching parliamentary election also places its own pressure on work. The world will continue to spin regardless. I sincerely hope that the Government can maintain the necessary cooperation internally and with Parliament for the good of the nation," President Halonen said.

The President also noted the significance of cooperation in foreign and security policy. "The Government Programme does not contain changes in the broad lines of our foreign and security policy. I will do my best so that the good cooperation prescribed in the Constitution will not only continue but will be strengthened with the Government that is now starting work," President Halonen said.
 

• More information on the Government's website
   

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