Presidential Inauguration on 1 March 2012

Press Release 14 February 2012

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

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

The Presidents will then attend the session of Parliament. Outgoing President Tarja Halonen will deliver a speech to Parliament, to which Speaker Eero Heinäluoma will respond.

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

Upon leaving Parliament, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö will inspect the honour guard in front of Parliament at approximately 12.45 p.m.

The Presidents will then go to the Presidential Palace, where the Presidents and their spouses will wave to citizens from the balcony.

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

The public can view the inspection of the honour guard in front of Parliament from Mannerheimintie at 11.50 a.m. and at approximately 12.45 p.m. The Presidents and their spouses will wave to the public from the balcony at the Presidential Palace at about 12.55; the event can be viewed from the Market Square and Pohjoisesplanadi.

The congratulations book will be open to the public on Thursday, 1 March from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the lobby of the main guard house at Mariankatu 1 and on Friday, 2 March from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the lobby of the Presidential Palace at Mariankatu 2.

The presidential inauguration will be broadcast live on YLE TV1, FST5 and Radio Suomi.