Ministries

The Government consists of 12 ministries. Each ministry is responsible for the preparation of government matters that fall within its sphere of authority and for ensuring the functioning of administration and government within that sphere.

The ministries are:

• Prime Minister’s Office
• The Ministry for Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of the Interior
• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Education and Culture
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
• Ministry of Transport and Communications
• Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
• Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
• Ministry of the Environment

Ministries’ mandates are laid down in the Government Rules of Procedure and their duties are laid down in decrees issued on the ministries. The mandate of the ministry is generally indicated by its name.

Ministers serve as heads of their respective ministries or conduct other ministerial duties assigned to them. Ministers also have governmental duties, which involve participating in the work of ministerial committees and taking part in plenary sessions and presidential sessions of the Government.

The most senior public official at each ministry is its permanent secretary, who directs and supervises the ministry’s activities. At the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, state secretaries serve as the permanent secretaries. A state secretary may be appointed to assist a minister for the duration of the minister’s term of office. 

Ministers also have special advisers in political affairs and for specific ministerial groups. The term of a special adviser is linked to that of the minister.

• Ministries’ contact information