1700 guests invited to Independence Day reception party

Some 1,700 people from all over the Finland will be invited to the Independence Day reception party hosted by President Sauli Niinistö and First Lady Jenni Haukio on December 6 at the Presidential Palace, said the President Office in a press release on Tuesday.

The number of guests at the reception is about 300 higher than in previous year. The President Office already started to send the invitations by mail.

The theme of this year´s reception party is “changing times”.

“We are living in a time when many things we have taken for granted are being questioned and new futures are being created at an unprecedented pace. Our common task is to find solutions to the challenges we face and make sure we are heading in the right direction”, Niinistö said.

The guests are a variety of people with long and illustrious careers who have been trailblazers, role models and mentors in their fields.

Invitees also include skilled young innovators, frontrunners working with key success factors for the future and professionals who guarantee security in society and everyday life.

Moreover, special attention has been paid to actions that support children and young people.

As in previous years, a significant number of the guests have been invited for the first time.

The guests of honour at the Independence Day reception are war veterans and members of the women’s voluntary civil defence organisation Lotta Svärd.

This year's reception will be the last Independence Day party hosted by Niinistö and Haukio at the Presidential Palace as the tenure of the President will be ended following nest presidential election scheduled for January next year.

First elected in 2012, Niinistö is going to complete his two six-year terms.