Statsminister
Encyclopedia
Statsminister is the local title for the function of prime minister
in Denmark
, Norway
, Sweden
and Finland
(in Finland Swedish). Although it literally means 'state minister', it should not be confused with the English title Minister of State
, which usually indicates a subordinate minister, or the French Ministre d'État which is used as a honorific
.
The title statsminister has been given to the head of government
in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland since the late 19th or early 20th century:
The title itself was first used in Sweden in the 1809 Instrument of Government
, which reduced the power of the king and saw the introduction of two ministers answerable to the Swedish Parliament: the justitiestatsminister ("Statsminister of Justice", i.e. Minister of Justice
) and the statsminister för utrikes ärendena ("Statsminister for Foreign Affairs", i.e. Minister of Foreign Affairs
). In 1876, Sweden's first non-royal head of government was appointed, with the title statsminister. Consequently, the prefix "stats" was dropped from the other two titles, to show that they were subordinate to the new head of government.
In Norway, which was in a union with Sweden
from 1814 to 1905, a similar reform was proposed already in 1859, but the title statsminister for the head of government wasn't adopted until 1884.
In Denmark, the head of the government was titled premierminister (i.e. prime minister
) from 1848 to 1854, and konseilspræsident ([i.e. President of the Council of Ministers
) from 1855 to 1918, when the title was changed to statsminister in line with the practice in neighbouring Sweden and Norway.
When Finland declared itself independent
from Russia
at the end of 1917, governmental titles were kept from the local government of the Grand Duchy of Finland
, but in 1919 it was decided that the titles in Swedish should follow the terminology of Sweden and the other Scandinavia
n countries, instead of being associated with the former Russian rule.
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
(in Finland Swedish). Although it literally means 'state minister', it should not be confused with the English title Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
, which usually indicates a subordinate minister, or the French Ministre d'État which is used as a honorific
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
.
The title statsminister has been given to the head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland since the late 19th or early 20th century:
- In SwedenPrime Minister of SwedenThe Prime Minister is the head of government in the Kingdom of Sweden. Before the creation of the office of a Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the King, in whom the executive authority was vested...
since 1876 - In NorwayHeads of government of NorwayThis is a list of heads of government of Norway, who held, inter alia, offices and titles such as steward , viceroy , first minister and prime minister ....
since 1884 - In DenmarkPrime Minister of DenmarkThe Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government in Danish politics. The Prime Minister is traditionally the leader of a political coalition in the Folketing and presides over the cabinet....
since 1918 - In FinlandPrime Minister of FinlandThe Prime Minister is the Head of Government of Finland. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, who is the Head of State. The current Prime Minister is Jyrki Katainen of the National Coalition Party.-Overview:...
, since 1919 (Statsminister is the official title in Swedish, whilst the title in FinnishFinnish languageFinnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
is pääministeri)
The title itself was first used in Sweden in the 1809 Instrument of Government
Instrument of Government (1809)
The Instrument of Government adopted on 6 June 1809 by the Riksdag of the Estates was one of the fundamental laws that made up the constitution of Sweden from 1809 to 1974...
, which reduced the power of the king and saw the introduction of two ministers answerable to the Swedish Parliament: the justitiestatsminister ("Statsminister of Justice", i.e. Minister of Justice
Justice Minister
A justice ministry is a ministry or other government agency charged with justice. The ministry is often headed by a minister for justice or secretary of justice or secretary for justice; sometimes the head of a department of justice is entitled attorney general.Specific duties may relate to...
) and the statsminister för utrikes ärendena ("Statsminister for Foreign Affairs", i.e. Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
). In 1876, Sweden's first non-royal head of government was appointed, with the title statsminister. Consequently, the prefix "stats" was dropped from the other two titles, to show that they were subordinate to the new head of government.
In Norway, which was in a union with Sweden
Union between Sweden and Norway
The Union between Sweden and Norway , officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, consisted of present-day Sweden and Norway between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a personal union....
from 1814 to 1905, a similar reform was proposed already in 1859, but the title statsminister for the head of government wasn't adopted until 1884.
In Denmark, the head of the government was titled premierminister (i.e. prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
) from 1848 to 1854, and konseilspræsident ([i.e. President of the Council of Ministers
President of the Council of Ministers
The official title President of the Council of Ministers, or Chairman of the Council of Ministers is used to describe the head of government of the states of Italy and Poland, and formerly in the Soviet Union, Portugal, France , Spain , Brazil , and Luxembourg...
) from 1855 to 1918, when the title was changed to statsminister in line with the practice in neighbouring Sweden and Norway.
When Finland declared itself independent
Finland's declaration of independence
The Finnish declaration of independence was adopted by the Parliament of Finland on 6 December 1917. It declared Finland an independent and sovereign nation state rather than an autonomous Russian Grand duchy.-Revolution in Russia:...
from Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
at the end of 1917, governmental titles were kept from the local government of the Grand Duchy of Finland
Grand Duchy of Finland
The Grand Duchy of Finland was the predecessor state of modern Finland. It existed 1809–1917 as part of the Russian Empire and was ruled by the Russian czar as Grand Prince.- History :...
, but in 1919 it was decided that the titles in Swedish should follow the terminology of Sweden and the other Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n countries, instead of being associated with the former Russian rule.