Sauli Niinistö

Finnish politician and the 12th President of Finland (2012-2024) · Finland · Politicians · Born 1948 · age 78

Sauli Niinistö is read about 318 times a day, in 87 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 22 October 2026

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He held Finland's presidency for twelve years, spanning a period that saw Russia's war in Ukraine reshape European security - and left office in 2024 ranked by Finns as the greatest president in their country's history.

Politicians Politician Politics Law 20th Century

A life in dates

2026Honourable Member of the European Order of MeritAward2022“Turkey’s concern over terrorism needs to be taken seriously. A large amount of Turkish people, ordinary citizens, have lost their lives in terrorist attacks.”In their words"Sauli Niinistö: Finland takes the fight against terrorism seriously", 2022Read the whole statement

“Finland condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and works actively to prevent it.”In their words"Sauli Niinistö: Finland takes the fight against terrorism seriously", 2022Read the whole statement

“In Finland, an amendment of the criminal code came into force this year. It expands and makes stricter the punishable scope of terrorism crimes.”In their words"Sauli Niinistö: Finland takes the fight against terrorism seriously", 2022Read the whole statement

“I can naturally not state the positions of Sweden, but according to my understanding our approaches are quite similar.”In their words"Sauli Niinistö: Finland takes the fight against terrorism seriously", 2022Read the whole statement

Global Citizen AwardsAward2018Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAwardMore about this2017Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of HelsinkiAward2016“It has been thought, correctly and nicely, that everyone who is in peril will be helped.”In their words3 February 2016President Niinistö commented the European refugee crisis while delivering an address to the Parliament of Finland on 3 February 2016.Read the whole statement

2015Gold Medal of Merit of the Reserve Officers AssociationAward2014Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra MarianaAward2013Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the FalconAwardGrand Cross with collar of the Order of Vytautas the GreatAward2012Named President of FinlandOffice1 March 2012 to 1 March 2024Cross of merit with clasp of Reservists' associationAwardGrand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of FinlandAwardKnight Grand Cross of the Order of St. OlavAward2010Honorary DoctorateAward2007Named Speaker of the Parliament of FinlandOffice24 April 2007 to 27 April 2011Named Member of the Parliament of FinlandOffice24 March 1999 to 18 March 20032005Commander of the Order of Orange-NassauAward1999Named Member of the Parliament of FinlandOffice24 March 1999 to 18 March 20031997“Do we have to let every tree stay up and rot in the way that all our forests will turn into impassable thickets that are nicely called virgin forests?”In their words17 May 1997Niinistö, the leader of the National Coalition Party, criticised the Natura 2000 environmental protection programme on 17 May 1997.Read the whole statement

1996Named Minister of FinanceOffice2 February 1996 to 16 April 2003Commander of the Order of the White Rose of FinlandAward1995Named Deputy Prime Minister of FinlandOffice13 April 1995 to 30 August 2001Named Minister of Justice of FinlandOffice13 April 1995 to 1 February 19961994Named Chairperson of the National Coalition PartyOffice1 January 1994 to 1 January 20011948Born24 August 1948

Also in Deutsch

Photos 1

Sauli Niinistö in the White House Oval Office on March 9, 2023 - P20230309CS-0276 (cropped)

In their own words 10

Sauli Niinistö

10 statements, newest first

Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay
May 14, 2022, Finnish President, Prime Minister announce support for joining NATO (Saturday, May 14, 2022), Own words
Turkey’s concern over terrorism needs to be taken seriously. A large amount of Turkish people, ordinary citizens, have lost their lives in terrorist attacks.
2022, "Sauli Niinistö: Finland takes the fight against terrorism seriously", 2022, Own words
Finland condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and works actively to prevent it.
2022, "Sauli Niinistö: Finland takes the fight against terrorism seriously", 2022, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Honourable Member of the European Order of Merit2026

Konung Carl XVI Gustafs jubileumsminnestecken IV2023

Global Citizen Awards2022

Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class2021

Medal of Merit with clasp of the Association of the Warrant Officers’2019

Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany2018

Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Helsinki2017

Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic2017

Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Helsinki2015

Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle2015

Order of the White Eagle2015

Gold Medal of Merit of the Reserve Officers Association2015

Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana2014

Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon2013

Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Three Stars2013

Knight of the Order of the Elephant2013

Grand Cross with collar of the Order of Vytautas the Great2013

Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour2013

Medal of Merit of the Association of Voluntary Defence Guilds2013

Royal Order of the Seraphim2012

Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland2012

Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland2012

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav2012

Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty2012

Honorary Doctor of the Eötvös Loránd University2012

Cross of merit with clasp of Reservists' association2012

Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Turku2011

Honorary Doctorate, University of Tampere2010

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic2008

Grand Cross of Royal Norwegian Order of Merit2007

Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau2005

Medal for Military Merits2003

Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland1996

Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria

Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau

Grand Cross of the Ordo Sancti Constantini Magni

Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix

Cross of Merit of the War Invalides

Family

Sauli Niinistö

Partners

Child Aaro Niinistö

Sibling Kari Niinistö

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About this person

Sauli Väinämö Niinistö was born 24 August 1948 and trained as a lawyer before rising through the National Coalition Party, where he chaired from 1994 to 2001 and held cabinet posts including Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister through the late 1990s and early 2000s. After leading the party's unsuccessful 2006 presidential bid and serving as Speaker of Parliament from 2007 to 2011, he ran again in 2012 and won decisively with 62.6% in the second round - the first NCP president since 1956. He sought reelection in 2018 as an independent, taking 62.7% in the first round, and served until 2024. A 2023 poll named him Finland's greatest president of all time.

Country

Finland