Position and duties

The duties and authority of the President of the Republic are enacted in the Constitution of Finland. The President also has other statutory duties besides those specified in the Constitution.

Under the Constitution of Finland, executive power is vested in the President of the Republic and the Government.

The President of the Republic leads Finland’s foreign policy in co-operation with the Government and decides on Finland’s relations to foreign governments and actions in international organisations or negotiations.

The President of the Republic is Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces.

The President of the Republic, who must be a native-born citizen of Finland, is elected by direct popular vote for a term of six years.