Presidential Inauguration on 1 March 2012

Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

The President of the Republic of Finland was inaugurated on Thursday, 1 March 2012.

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen and president-elect Sauli Niinistö arrived at Parliament for inspection of the honour guard by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at 11.50 a.m.

The Presidents then attended the session of Parliament. Outgoing President Tarja Halonen delivered a speech to Parliament, to which Speaker Eero Heinäluoma  responded.

President-elect Sauli Niinistö then made the solemn affirmation prescribed in Section 56 of the Finnish Constitution. After the solemn affirmation Speaker Heinäluoma  presented the greetings of Parliament to the new President of the Republic, who  then spoke before Parliament.

Upon leaving Parliament, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö inspected the honour guard in front of Parliament House.

Thereafter, President Niinistö and former President Halonen went to the Presidential Palace, where the Presidents and their spouses greeted citizens from the balcony.

At the Presidential Palace representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Government and top government bodies, as well as senior government officials, first greeted President Tarja Halonen and then President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö.

The congratulations book is open to the public on Thursday 1 March from 10.00 to 16.00 in the foyer of the Main Guard Post at Mariankatu 1 and on Friday 2 March from 10.00 to 16.00 in the foyer of the Presidential Palace at Mariankatu 2.

The presidential inauguration was broadcasted live on YLE TV1, FST5 and Radio Suomi.

The archived website of the 11th President of the Republic of Finland, Tarja Kaarina Halonen, is available at www.presidentti.fi/halonen.

The new website of President Halonen is available at www.presidenthalonen.fi.