President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö met the media for the last time at the Presidential Palace on Thursday 29 February 2024. At a press conference, President Niinistö thanked the Finnish people for their support over the past 12 years.
The President said that 12 years earlier, after his election, he had brought up the issue of the connection with people. “During an election campaign you meet thousands, maybe tens of thousands of people. With many of them, you can at least exchange a word or two.” According to the President, these conversations and the encouragement they give leave a lasting, unforgettable mark. “The connection with the people is something you don’t forget. It deepens. And, of course, during your term of office, when you meet a lot of people, the idea of the contact with the people is established. It continues to deepen.”
The President said that this inspires extreme gratitude, but also a strong sense of responsibility and duty. “They trust me, therefore I have to do my best. This is the feeling I will remember most from these 12 years. ”
According to the President, the past 12 years have gone by at an ever-increasing pace – a lot has happened. “Speaking of lessons, I have learnt that we are all human, even the great leaders.”
He told the media that the role of action had also often come up. “Which is wiser, to make a big noise, and then satisfied that is has been said? Or to try to do what you think is right in a more discreet way. I’m in favour of the latter.”
President Niinistö’s 12 years as President of the Republic of Finland will come to an end on 1 March 2024, when the president-elect Alexander Stubb, takes office. The inauguration of the President of the Republic will be broadcast live on Yle TV1, Yle Fem and Yle Areena.
