Minister Väyrynen to become the second-longest-serving minister in Finland

Government Communications Unit
Press release 335/2010
9.11.2010

On Wednesday, 10 November, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen will have served 5 773 days as minister. He will become the second-longest-serving minister in the all-time statistics of Finnish governments. Ahti Karjalainen has 5 772 ministerial days and Johannes Virolainen still holds the first place with his 6 169 days as minister.

Paavo Väyrynen’s ministerial career began in 1975 when he was appointed Minister of Education for the second Government of Prime Minister Miettunen. From thereon, Väyrynen has served in the following Governments: Mauri Miettunen’s third, Kalevi Sorsa’s second, Mauno Koivisto’s second, Kalevi Sorsa’s fourth, Esko Aho’s and Matti Vanhanen’s second. Paavo Väyrynen was appointed Minister for Foreign Trade and Development for Prime Minister Kiviniemi’s Government on 22 June 2010.

Number of ministerial days on 10 November 2010 (data retrieved from the Information system on ministers)

Minister Days in office

Virolainen, Johannes 6 169
Väyrynen, Paavo Matti 5 773
Karjalainen, Ahti Kalle Samuli 5 772
Sorsa, Taisto Kalevi 4 793
Enestam, Jan-Erik 4 382
Norrback, Johan Ole 4 369
Miettunen, Martti Juhani 4 316
Törngren, Ralf Johan Gustaf 4 246
Pekkarinen, Reijo Mauri Matias 4 214
Taxell, Lars Evald Christoffer 4 037

More statistics on Finnish Governments and ministers is available at www.government.fi/finnishcabinets(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)