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More than 500 guests invited to the state funeral of former Finnish president Mauno Koivisto

Government Communications Department
Publication date 19.5.2017 19.17 | Published in English on 20.5.2017 at 16.28
Press release 252/2017

The committee preparing the state funeral of former President of the Republic of Finland Mauno Koivisto convened on Friday 19 May. The committee discussed all aspects of the preparations for the state funeral, including the funeral cortege, the invitations and flag flying arrangements.

The state funeral for Mauno Koivisto will be held on Thursday 25 May. The funeral service will take place at 13.00 in Helsinki Cathedral. The burial will be in Hietaniemi Cemetery, and a memorial ceremony for invited guests will be held in the House of the Estates.

Route of funeral cortege to Hietaniemi Cemetery

The funeral cortege will depart from Helsinki Cathedral after the funeral service, which starts at 13.00. The cortege will proceed along the following route: Unioninkatu - Aleksanterinkatu - Snellmaninkatu - Vironkatu - Meritullinkatu – Pohjoisranta - Pohjoisesplanadi - Mannerheimintie - Arkadiankatu - Hietaniemi Cemetery.  The cortege will stop outside the Government Palace, the Bank of Finland and the Presidential Palace.

The route will have to be cleared of vehicles, and the authorities will issue detailed information about this and other traffic arrangements at the start of the week.

The public can view the cortege along its route as it proceeds from Helsinki Cathedral to Hietaniemi Cemetery. 

Map: route of the funeral cortege

Invited guests

In addition to the bereaved family and Finland’s leaders, more than 500 guests have been invited to attend the state funeral. Foreign states will be represented at ambassadorial level. The overall funeral arrangements have been agreed with the bereaved family.

Flags at half mast on 25 May

The Prime Minister’s Office decided on 19 May that all government agencies and public bodies will observe the flag flying arrangements determined for the state funeral. It is also recommended that the same flag flying arrangements be observed throughout the country.

On 25 May, flags are to be flown at half mast from 8.00 in the morning until the end of the memorial ceremony, which is expected to be at about 17.30.  At that time, flags are to be raised to full mast and finally lowered at sunset, but no later than 21.00.

Inquiries: Paula Lehtomäki, State Secretary, tel. +358 295 160 280 (inquiries after office hours through Päivi Paasikoski), Timo Lankinen, Permanent State Under-Secretary, tel. +358 40 507 4448 (general matters concerning the state funeral), and Päivi Paasikoski, Head of Communications, tel. +358 40 547 6279, Prime Minister's Office

 
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