Rinne Cabinet
The cabinet of Antti Rinne was the 75th government of Finland. It was formed following the parliamentary election of 2019 and was formally appointed by President Sauli Niinistö on 6 June 2019.[1] The cabinet consisted of a coalition formed by the Social Democratic Party, the Centre Party, the Green League, the Left Alliance, and the Swedish People's Party. The cabinet's Prime Minister was Antti Rinne.
Rinne's Cabinet | |
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75th Cabinet of Finland | |
Date formed | 6 June 2019 |
Date dissolved | 10 December 2019 |
People and organisations | |
Head of state | Sauli Niinistö |
Head of government | Antti Rinne |
No. of ministers | 19 |
Member parties | Social Democratic Party Centre Party Green League Left Alliance Swedish People's Party |
Status in legislature | Majority 117 / 200 (59%)
|
Opposition party | |
History | |
Election(s) | 2019 parliamentary election |
Incoming formation | Social Democratic Party Centre Party Green League Left Alliance Swedish People's Party |
Predecessor | Sipilä Cabinet |
Successor | Marin Cabinet |
This government was the first centre-left coalition to lead Finland since the Lipponen II Cabinet in 2003. The Rinne coalition had a total of 117 seats (58.5%) in the 200-seat parliament.
Rinne announced the resignation of his government due to mishandling a postal strike on 3 December 2019. It continued its term as a caretaker government until a new government, the Marin Cabinet, was formed.
Ministers
The Rinne cabinet comprised 19 ministers: seven ministers from the Social Democratic Party, five ministers from the Centre Party, three from the Green League, and two each from the Left Alliance and the Swedish People's Party.[2]
The constitution requires ministers to be "honest and competent". The nomination of Centre's Antti Kaikkonen as the Minister of Defence drew considerable controversy due to his previous conviction from political corruption. Historically, the interpretation of the "honest and competent" clause has been permissive: the most salient example would be Aarre Simonen, who was also successfully appointed in 1966 despite his conviction in 1961, also from corruption. Rinne had the question checked with the Chancellor of Justice and Kaikkonen was cleared to proceed. The motivation was that there had already been two elections in between where Kaikkonen had been re-elected, and Kaikkonen had been law-abiding since.[3]
References
- Programme of Prime Minister Antti Rinne’s Government 6 June 2019: Inclusive and competent Finland – A socially, economically and ecologically sustainable society. Helsinki: Finnish Government. 2019. ISBN 978-952-287-759-8.
- "Government of Prime Minister Rinne appointed". Valtioneuvosto.
- "Finland's new government: SDP, Centre dominate ministerial portfolios". yle. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Oikeuskansleri totesi Kaikkosen esteettömäksi puolustusministeriksi – vanhaa rikosta seurannut nuhteettomuus ja äänestäjien luottamus arviointikriteereinä". Yle Uutiset. 6 June 2019.
- "Ministers". Valtioneuvosto. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
- "Katri Kulmunista pääministerin ensimmäinen sijainen". Valtioneuvosto. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-12.