The Finnish Municipal CEO: A Strong Professional Leader in a Changing Political Environment

The early institutionalization of the municipal chief executive officer (MCEO) in Finnish towns in 1927 has had long-standing repercussions for the power balance between politics and administration in Finnish local government. The tension between a strong appointed MCEO and a weaker political leadership has been a recurring theme in the Finnish debate. One key objective of the 1995 and 2015 reforms of the Local Government Act was to strengthen the role of political leadership vis-à-vis the MCEO. This chapter demonstrates that the position of the MCEO in the local politico–administrative system remains strong, despite the reform efforts and changes in the power relations between the MCEO and politicians.