History
In 1918, the Finnish Senate was transformed into the Council of State (or cabinet) of Finland, and the position of Vice-Chairman of the Economic Division of the Senate was transformed into that of a Prime Minister. Kesäranta (in Swedish Villa Bjälbo), located in the Meilahti area of Helsinki, has been the official residence of the Prime Minister of Finland since 1919.
Since its independence (declared on 6 December 1917), Finland has had 72 cabinets, including the current one, the longest lasting being the two cabinets of Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen, both lasting 1,464 days.
Before the 1980s cabinets tended to be short-lived: the President was the most important political figure and he had the right to form a new cabinet whenever he wanted. From the 1980s onwards cabinets have tended to serve full terms (although the Prime Minister may have changed midterm in a few cases, most of the other cabinet has remained nearly unchanged) and the Prime Minister has become more powerful a figure than the President. Under the current constitution the Prime Minister is chosen by the Parliament and only appointed by the President.
Read more about this topic: List Of Prime Ministers Of Finland
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