The City Council of Helsinki (, ) is the main decision-making organ in the local politics of

Helsinki Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

. The City Council deals with issues such as

city planning Urban planning, also known as town planning, city planning, regional planning, or rural planning, is a technical and political process that is focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water, ...

, schools, health care, and

public transport Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typical ...

. The 85-seat Council's members are elected every four years in

municipal elections In many parts of the world, local elections take place to select office-holders in local government, such as mayors and councillors. Elections to positions within a city or town are often known as "municipal elections". Their form and conduct vary ...

. The seat of the Council is the

Helsinki City Hall Helsinki City Hall ( fi, Helsingin kaupungintalo, sv, Helsingfors stadshus) is a central administrative building of Helsinki, Finland. City Hall is located in the Kruununhaka district, overlooking Market Square, at address Pohjoisesplanadi 11–1 ...

, which overlooks

Market Square The market square (or sometimes, the market place) is a Town square, square meant for trading, in which a market is held. It is an important feature of many towns and cities around the world. Historically, the center-right

National Coalition Party sv, Samlingspartiet , leader1_title = Chairman , leader1_name = Petteri Orpo , leader2_title = Deputy chairs , leader2_name = Antti Häkkänen Elina ValtonenAnna-Kaisa Ikonen , merger = Finnish Party, Young Finnis ...

has been the largest player in Helsinki's local politics, with the center-left

Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties Fo ...

being the second largest. However, since the 2000 elections, the position of the Social Democrats has been challenged by the

Green League The Green League (VIHR, fi, Vihreä liitto , sv, Gröna förbundet), shortened to the Greens ( fi, Vihreät, sv, De Gröna), is a green political party in Finland. Ideologically, the Green League is positioned on the centre-left of the polit ...

, for which Helsinki is the strongest area of support nationally, with the former party becoming the second-largest in only the 2008 elections. As of 2021, the second-largest and third-largest parties in the Council are the Green League and the Social Democrats respectively. The Left Alliance is the Council's fourth-largest party while the

Finns Finns or Finnish people ( fi, suomalaiset, ) are a Baltic Finnic ethnic group native to Finland. Finns are traditionally divided into smaller regional groups that span several countries adjacent to Finland, both those who are native to these ...

are the fifth-largest. The

Swedish People's Party The Swedish People's Party of Finland ( sv, Svenska folkpartiet i Finland (SFP); fi, Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (RKP)) is a political party in Finland aiming to represent the interests of the minority Swedish-speaking population of Finlan ...

is sixth, with the party's support on a steady decline over the years; this can be attributed to the diminishing proportion of

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

speakers in Helsinki. The agrarian Centre Party, despite being one of the major parties in national politics, has limited support in Helsinki. This is because there are very few farmers in Helsinki. Vallan keskipisteessä 2011

Seat distribution in the Council

1919–1936

1945–

Chairmen of the City Council

Leo Mechelin Leopold (Leo) Henrik Stanislaus Mechelin (24 November 1839 in Hamina, Finland – 26 January 1914 in Helsinki, Finland) was a Finnish politician, professor, liberal reformer and businessman. A leading defender of the autonomy of the Grand Duch ...

(1875–1878) * A. W. Liljenstrand (1877) * J. A. Estlander (1879–1880) * Lorenz Leonard Lindelöf (1881–1882) * M. W. af Schultén (1883–1887) * J. W. Runeberg (1888–1891) *

(1892–1899) (2nd time) * P. K. S. Antell (1900–1903) * Alfred Norrmén (1904–1918) *

Alexander Frey Alexander Frey, KM (SMOM), KStJ, is an American symphony orchestra Conductor (music), conductor, virtuoso organist, pianist, harpsichordist and composer. Frey is in great demand as one of the world's most versatile conductors, and enjoys success ...

(1919–1920) * Arthur Söderholm (1922) *

Leo Ehrnrooth Leo Reinhold Ehrnrooth (10 March 1877 in Helsinki – 26 July 1951 in Sweden) was a Finnish politician from Swedish People's Party of Finland. He was a member of the Senate of Finland. He served as Minister of Trade and Industry in 1920, and ...

(1923–1925) *

Antti Tulenheimo Antti Agathon Tulenheimo (4 December 1879 – 3 September 1952) was a Finnish politician from the National Coalition Party who served as Prime Minister of Finland in 1925. He was also minister of the interior from November 1918 to April 1919. H ...

(1926–1928) * Ivar Lindfors (1929–1934) * Yrjö Harvia (1934–1936) *

Eero Rydman Eero is an Estonian and Finnish masculine given name (pronounced: /e:ro/). Notable people with the name include: * Eero Aarnio (born 1932), Finnish interior designer * Eero Aho (born 1968), Finnish actor * Eero Akaan-Penttilä (born 1943), ...

(1937–1944) * Eino Tulenheimo (1945–1950) * Konsti Järnefelt (1951) * Lauri Aho (1952–1956) * Teuvo Aura (1957–1968) * Jussi Saukkonen (1969–1972) * Pentti Poukka (1973–1979) * Gustaf Laurent (1980) *

Harri Holkeri Harri Hermanni Holkeri (; 6 January 1937 – 7 August 2011) was a Finnish statesman representing the National Coalition Party of Finland (Kokoomus / Samlingspartiet). He was the Prime Minister of Finland 1987–1991, president of the UN Gen ...

(1981–1987) *

Kari Rahkamo Kari Tapani Rahkamo (born 30 May 1933) is a Finnish athlete, politician, and Mayor of Helsinki in 1991–1996. He competed in the men's triple jump at the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Gio ...

(1987–1991) * Erkki Heikkonen (1991–1992) *

Arja Alho Arja Inkeri Alho (born 21 March 1954) is a Finnish politician. She was member of the Parliament of Finland from 1983 to 1999 and again from 2003 to 2007, representing the constituency of Helsinki until 1999 and then the constituency of Uusimaa sin ...

(1993–1994) * Suvi Rihtniemi (1995–2000) *

Pekka Sauri Pekka Markus Sauri (born 31 May 1954 in Helsinki) is a Finnish psychologist and a Green League politician. He is formerly the deputy mayor of Finland's capital city, Helsinki and chair of thProcura+ Campaignfor sustainable procurement. Sauri becam ...

(2001–2003) * Minerva Krohn (2003–2004) *

Rakel Hiltunen Lea Rakel Hiltunen (née ''Lyytikäinen''; born 2 July 1940 in Keitele) is a Finnish social worker and politician. She was a member of the Parliament of Finland The Parliament of Finland ( ; ) is the unicameral and supreme legislature of ...

(2005–2008) * Otto Lehtipuu (2009–2011) * Minerva Krohn (2011–2012) * Mari Puoskari (2013–)

Deputy Chairman

Väinö Tanner Väinö Alfred Tanner (; 12 March 1881 – 19 April 1966; surname until 1895 ''Thomasson'') was a leading figure in the Social Democratic Party of Finland, and a pioneer and leader of the cooperative movement in Finland. He was Prime Minister ...

(1929-1930) *

Johan Helo Johan Helo (22 August 1889, in Helsinki – 25 October 1966; surname until 1906 Helenius) was a Finnish lawyer, diplomat and politician. Helo served as Minister of Social Affairs from 13 December 1926 to 15 November 1927, Minister of Transport and ...

* Pekka Railo *

Tyyne Leivo-Larsson Tyyne Lilja Leivo-Larsson (née Leivo; 3 March 1902 Uusikirkko – 1 August 1977 Helsinki) was a Finnish Ambassador and MP. She was the first Finnish woman to serve as Ambassador in Oslo from 1958 to 1966 and as Envoy to Reykjavík in 1958–1964 ...

(1948-1956) * B. R. Nybergh (1951-1954) * Gunnar Modeen (1954-1964) * Yrjö Rantala (1957-1972) * Leo Backman (1965-1967) * Carl-Gustaf Londen (1967-1974) *

Keijo Liinamaa Keijo Antero Liinamaa (6 April 1929 in Mänttä – 28 June 1980 in Helsinki) was a Finnish lawyer and politician who served as caretaker Prime Minister of Finland from June to November 1975. Liinamaa, a lawyer specialising in labour law, ...

(1973-1976) * Gustaf Laurent (1974-1980)Kukkiva asfaltti, hiukan nostalginen albumi (2001, Pentti Poukka) * Per-Erik Förars (1977-1979) *

Arvo Salo Arvo Jaakko Henrikki Salo (2 May 1932 – 9 July 2011) was a Finnish writer, journalist and politician. He served as an MP from 1966 to 1970 and from 1979 to 1983 (Social Democratic Party) and was Minister of Education and Culture from 1982 to 19 ...

(1979-1980) * Grels Teir * Jyrki Lohi (1989-1992) * Ulla Gyllenberg (1989-1992) * Outi Ojala (1993-1994) * Erkki Heikkonen (1993-1995) * Ulla Gyllenberg (1994-1998) * Per-Erik Förars (1995-1996) *

Tuula Haatainen Tuula Irmeli Haatainen (born 11 February 1960) is a Finnish politician and a member of the Finnish Parliament, with the Social Democratic Party. She was the Minister of Education 2003–2005 and the Minister of Social Affairs and Health 2005–20 ...

(1997-2000) *

Tuija Brax Tuija Kaarina Brax (née ''Karvonen''; born 6 January 1965 in Helsinki) is a Finnish politician and former Minister of Justice. She is a Member of Finnish Parliament, representing the Green League. She was first elected to the Parliament in 1995. ...

(1998-2000) * Hannele Luukkainen (2000) * Suvi Rihtniemi (2001-2004) *

Arto Bryggare Arto Kalervo Bryggare (born 26 May 1958 in Kouvola) is a Finnish former hurdling athlete. He was a member of the Parliament of Finland, representing the Social Democratic Party of Finland from 1995 to 1999 and 2003 to 2007. His p ...

(2001-2004) * Harry Bogomoloff (2005-) * Minerva Krohn (2005-2008) *

(2009–2012) * Sara Paavolainen (2013–)

City Manager

The City Manager of Helsinki was appointed by the Council. The last holder of the post was

Jussi Pajunen Jussi Ilmari Pajunen (born 5 September 1954 in Helsinki) is a Finnish politician of the National Coalition Party and former city manager of Helsinki. Prior to this appointment, Pajunen served as a member of the City Council in 1997–2005, and b ...

. He was appointed for two 7-year terms, starting 1 June 2005. Pajunen was a member of the Council for 8 years, and was the chairman of the city board in 2003–2005. The position of City Manager was abolished in June 2017 and the position of Mayor was created.

List of city managers of Helsinki

Mayor

The position of Mayor of Helsinki was created when the position of City Manager of Helsinki was abolished in June 2017. The incumbent mayor of Helsinki is Juhana Vartiainen. Vapaavuori has been a Helsinki City Council member in the years 1997-2007 and 2017-. Vapaavuori started his term on 7 June 2017.

List of mayors of Helsinki

References

External links

* {{Official website, https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/en/administration/decision/council/ Politics of Helsinki City councils