Provincial Governors of Finland

Provincial Governors Of Finland

The Governor, Maaherra, or Landshövding, of a province of Finland headed the activities of the State Provincial Office, Lääninhallitus, or Länsstyrelse until the end of 2009, when the provinces were abolished. The governors were appointed by the President. Many former ministers including but not limited to Kaarlo Hillilä, Martti Miettunen, Hannele Pokka and Anneli Taina served as governors, since the post was regarded as prestigious enough for a retiring minister, but still politically neutral. The title of maaherra was also considered a personal title, such that once appointed, the title maaherra remained for life.

During the Swedish period (1634-1809) and the Russian period (1809-1917) the governor was a royal plenipotentiary, representing the sovereign, but with independence, the function was reversed: the governor represented his territory to the central government.

Read more about Provincial Governors Of Finland:  Governors of Norrland County, Västerbotten County, Saint Petersburg Governorate and Vyborg Governora

Famous quotes containing the words provincial and/or governors:

    The divinity in man is the true vestal fire of the temple which is never permitted to go out, but burns as steadily and with as pure a flame on the obscure provincial altar as in Numa’s temple at Rome.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    I do love this people [the French] with all my heart, and think that with a better religion and a better form of government and their present governors their condition and country would be most enviable.
    Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)