Prime Minister Marin submits Government’s request for resignation – Government to continue on a caretaker basis

Prime Minister Sanna Marin submitted her Government’s request for resignation to President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö on Thursday 6 April at Mäntyniemi. The President of the Republic accepted the resignation and asked the Government to continue in a caretaker capacity until a new Government has been appointed.

A caretaker government is a Government that has requested resignation from its duties. In line with the principle of parliamentarism, the Government must enjoy the confidence of Parliament. It therefore makes sense for the Government to request resignation after a parliamentary election. After the election, the position of the Government corresponds in practice to that of a caretaker government even before its resignation, because the Government was formed with the support of the previous Parliament and it was the previous Parliament that elected the Prime Minister.

Generally speaking, a caretaker government only attends to routine duties and addresses urgent issues that cannot be left for the new Government. A caretaker government no longer implements the Government Programme and should refrain from making new or extensive political motions that would affect the ability of the new Government to perform its tasks.

The Chancellor of Justice monitors the caretaker government’s decision-making to ensure that it remains within its legal limits.

Inquiries: Timo Lankinen, Permanent State Under-Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 295 160 300 and Arno Liukko, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Prime Minister’s Office,  tel. +358 295 516 0175