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FINLAND
Finland has a mixed presidential/parliamentary system with executive powers divided between the president, who has primary responsibility for national security and foreign affairs, and the prime minister, who has primary responsibility for all other areas.
Constitutional changes made in the late 1980s strengthened the prime minister -- who must enjoy the confidence of the parliament (Eduskunta) -- at the expense of the president. Finland's 1995 accession to the European Union has blurred the line between foreign and domestic policy; the respective roles of the president and prime minister are evolving, and plans are under consideration to rewrite the constitution to clarify these and other issues. |
| CURRENT GOVERNMENT |
| President |
Halonen, Tarja |
| Prime Minister |
Lipponen, Paavo |
| Min. of Agriculture & Forestry |
Hemila, Kalevi |
| Min. of Basic Services |
Soininvaara, Osmo |
| Min. of Culture |
Linden, Suvi |
| Min. of Defense |
Enestam, Jan Erik |
| Min. of Education |
Rask, Maija |
| Min. of Environment |
Hassi, Satu |
| Min. of Finance |
Niinisto, Sauli |
| Min. of Foreign Affairs |
Tuomioja, Erkki |
| Min. of Foreign Trade |
Sasi, Kimmo |
| Min. of Interior |
Hakamies, Kari |
| Min. of Justice |
Koskinen, Johannes |
| Min. of Labor |
Filatov, Tarja |
| Min. of Local & Regional Affairs |
Korhonen, Martti |
| Min. of Social Affairs & Health |
Perho, Maija |
| Min. of Trade & Industry |
Monkare, Sinikka |
| Min. of Transport & Communications |
Heinonen, Olli-Pekka |
| Governor, Bank of Finland |
Vanhala, Matti |
| Ambassador to the US |
Laajava, Jaakko |
| Permanent Representative to the UN, New York |
Rasi, Satu Marjatta |
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