The duties of the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

The duties of the Office are statutory and most recently defined by Act 1995/1382, in force since 1.1.1996. The Office assists the President in carrying out her official duties, manages the President's administrative business, and organizes personal services needed by the President and her family. The Office is also responsible for the personal security of the President and security of the buildings used by her.

The duties of the Presidential Cabinet and the Aides-de-Camp

Presidential Cabinet

The Cabinet members monitor questions relevant to the President in the performance of her official duties and report thereon to the President and to the Cabinet. The Cabinet also has primary responsibility to otherwise assist the President in her official duties in accordance with her instructions.

The Chief of Cabinet is Secretary General Päivi Kairamo-Hella. Adviser Jukka Lindstedt acts as Deputy Chief of Cabinet.

Meetings of the Cabinet

The President of the Republic in person chairs meetings of the Cabinet dealing with the most important matters relating to the performance of the President's official duties. The Cabinet meets to deal with other official business and to prepare meetings with the President.

Aides-de-Camp

A number of Aides-de-Camp on secondment from the Defence Forces work in the Office of the President of the Republic.

The Aides-de-Camp under the leadership of the first Aide-de-Camp are responsible for the management of the President’s and her spouse’s daily program in accordance with the instructions of the President and guidance given by the Cabinet.

This practice dates from 1918-19, when General C-G. E. Mannerheim was the provisional Head of State. (The artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela, then a lieutenant, was one of Mannerheim’s Aides-de-Camp.) An Aide-de-Camp is assigned to the President’s spouse and another to the retired Presidents.