Valtioneuvos[1] (Finnish for “counsellor of state”, Swedish: statsråd) is a Finnish title of honor awarded by the President of Finland to elder statesmen.[2] It is one of two titles (the other being vuorineuvos) in the highest class of State of Finland honors.[3] A tax on the titles of 48,400 euros or 12,100 euros must be paid by whoever proposes the title to a holder.[4]

Some former Social Democratic prime ministers such as Rafael Paasio, Kalevi Sorsa and Paavo Lipponen all declined the honor when it was offered to them. Lipponen commented that no one outside Finland knows what valtioneuvos is, and that he is satisfied with "former Prime Minister".

Title holders

Portrait Title holder
(born–died)		 Awarded (year) Awarder (by President of Finland) Political career statues Party
Juho Kusti Paasikivi
(1870–1956)		 1930 Lauri Kristian Relander President, Prime minister and member of parliament Finnish Party and National Coalition Party
E. N. Setälä
(1864–1935)		 1934 P. E. Svinhufvud cabinet minister and member of parliament Young Finnish Party and National Coalition Party
Eero Yrjö Pehkonen
(1882–1949)		 1948 Juho Kusti Paasikivi Provincial Governor, member of parliament and cabinet minister Agrarian League
Karl-August Fagerholm
(1901–1984)		 1969 Urho Kekkonen Speaker of Parliament and Prime minister Social Democratic Party
Martti Miettunen
(1907–2002)		 1977 Urho Kekkonen Speaker of Parliament, Member of parliament and Prime minister Center Party
Johannes Virolainen
(1914–2000)		 1989 Mauno Koivisto Speaker of Parliament, Member of parliament and Prime Minister Center Party
Harri Holkeri
(1937–2011)		 1998 Martti Ahtisaari Prime minister and member of parliament National Coalition Party
Riitta Uosukainen
(1942–)		 2004 Tarja Halonen Speaker of Parliament, Member of parliament and Minister National Coalition Party

References

  1. ↑ "Honorary titles - Prime Minister's Office". Valtioneuvoston kanslia. Even if a foreign language equivalent is agreed for a job title, such a translation should never be used for a similar honorary title.
  2. ↑ Edita Publishing Oy. "FINLEX ® - Ajantasainen lainsäädäntö: Laki julkisen arvonannon osoituksista 1215/1999". finlex.fi.
  3. ↑ Edita Publishing Oy. "FINLEX ® - Ajantasainen lainsäädäntö: Tasavallan presidentin asetus arvonimistä 381/2000". www.finlex.fi.
  4. ↑ Edita Publishing Oy. "FINLEX ® - Säädökset alkuperäisinä: Laki arvonimistä suoritettavasta verosta 1388/2001". finlex.fi.
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