Tarja Halonen's second inauguration speech, 2006

Tarja Halonen was re-elected for a second term as President of Finland in the second round of voting in the 2006 Finnish Presidential election on January 29, 2006. She began her second term of office on March 1 after making the presidential affirmation at Parliament House, Helsinki. Following this, President Halonen delivered her second inauguration speech.

Text of the speech

Mr Speaker Members of Parliament

In keeping with the solemn declaration I have made, I will promote the wellbeing of the people of Finland to the best of my ability. For the second time now I have received a mandate from the people to undertake this demanding task, and I would like to express my gratitude for their support in the election.

We Finns have many reasons for being proud of our country. This year, we are celebrating 100 years of uninterrupted democracy in Finland.

Apart from democracy, social fairness and shared responsibility are also values that are important to us. We have defended and built our country together through our joint efforts. As a result, our homeland is wealthier today than ever before, and our competitiveness is of the highest rank.

Yet we also have our problems. Income differentials are again growing, and new poverty has emerged in Finland. The pay for a full-time job is not enough to support a family. Women still earn about 80% of what men earn on average. There are problems with the system of welfare services, and employees have difficulty coping at work. Social inequality takes many forms.

Although the welfare society is a generally accepted objective, it is an objective that is not attained in the lives of most people. We have regional and social inequality, and this clashes with the Finns’ sense of what is right. Things do not need to be like this. The welfare of citizens and the international competitiveness of our country are not mutually exclusive; they are mutually complementary and mutually supportive.

The welfare society requires a strong economy and high employment, which we have. But we also need more jobs, as unemployment has remained high. Close cooperation between the public and private sectors benefits them both. Investments in research and development are increasingly important as international competition tightens. We need to be better and more efficient to make Finnish labour competitive in the global market. We have rather good potential for future success.

Expertise is not just the business of universities; it must be an objective in all aspects of working life. The availability of competent labour cannot be ensured just by focusing on the educational attainment of young people, which I am delighted to say is very high in Finland. Professional skills are important for every person of working age. Lifelong learning is an objective we have all heard of, but it needs to be urgently put into practice because of the shift in our business world and working life and because of the ageing of our population.

The free mobility of capital, goods, services and citizens is a fundamental principle of the European Union. Extending free mobility to the citizens of all new member states is justifiable because of the equality of all member states. We must make sure that employment conditions are the same for everyone and that separate labour markets do not emerge in Finland for Finns on the one hand and foreigners on the other.

During the presidential election, there was discussion about how Finland needs work-related immigration. While this is true, it is not a wonder drug that will solve all our labour supply problems. Immigrants are not just labour, they are people. Integrating into a new home country requires language skills, social contacts and learning the lay of the land, so to speak. But we who already live here also have a lot to learn about how to live with each other. Learning to know our differences and to acknowledge our equality is a long process that should not be feared but should not be belittled either. We each have our role to play in this, and I will for my part strive to help achieve openness in a safe and secure way.

I will continue to offer my cooperation to the business sector in order to promote the export of the fruits of Finnish labour and expertise and in order to strengthen international relations. I hope that the Finnish economy can be an attractive investment, and Finland a potential new home, for an increasing number of companies.

A long-term and methodical approach forms the foundation of our foreign policy and our international activities. Our work has achieved results: Finland is considered a good and reliable partner both in our neighbouring areas and globally. In international cooperation, Finland and Finns are much in demand in various duties.

Today, the world faces a multitude of challenges and threats. No country however strong can manage on its own. By participating actively in the work of the United Nations and of other international organizations, Finland is working with other countries towards the achievement of stable development in the world. A more just world is a safer world, and also a better place for us to live in.

Finland will be taking up the EU Presidency for the latter half of this year, at a highly challenging time. Finland will be working for our common European aims. In external relations, Finland’s main aims include the smooth and balanced progress of the agreed enlargement plan, the development of cooperation between the EU and Russia, the strengthening of the northern dimension, and the enhancement of the external relations of the EU in general. Good bilateral relations with both our neighbouring countries and countries more distant will help us manage the Presidency.

Development policy is an essential part of our foreign policy. Increasing security and wellbeing can be achieved through development policy too. In order to maintain the reputation of Finland’s foreign policy for being logical and credible, it is very important that the development policy targets in the Government Programme be adhered to, including the target of increasing appropriations for development aid so that in 2010 they would amount to 0.7% of GNI, in view of general economic developments. This policy has been approved by Parliament and should be observed.

An increase in development aid puts more weight on its planned, efficient and responsible use. Supporting development sustainable for people and for the environment is a natural and credible pursuit for Finland.

Environmental care in the future will require more comprehensive national and international cooperation. Climate change affects everyone, and we must continue to work towards getting all countries on board in this effort. We have not only a shared responsibility but an individual responsibility for the state of our environment. I would like to be able to contribute to this effort. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

Building a better tomorrow takes teamwork. It requires the contributions of Parliament, the President and the Government, but much more besides — all the resources of modern society.

I would like to thank you, Mr Speaker, for the congratulations you have extended to me on behalf of Parliament on my re-election. I aim to pursue close cooperation with both Parliament and the Government in all things. I hope that you and everyone in Finland will support our work for the wellbeing of the people of Finland.