Svinhufvud was appointed as Chairman of the Senate on 27 November 1917, and was a key figure in the announcement of Finland's declaration of independence on 6 December 1917.
Svinhufvud blev valgt som formand for det finske senat den 27. november 1917 og var en nøglefigur ved udråbelsen af Finlands uafhængighed den 6. december 1917.