Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Republic
of Finland/Suomen Tasavalta/ Republiken Finland
(Rural women got suffrage 1863, townswomen got the same right 1873 and
universal female suffrage was introduced 1906) Formerly a part of Sweden was a
Russian Grand Duchy under the Russian Crown until it became independent 1917
See
also Finland Heads and Finland Parliament
1927-28
Second Minister of Social Affairs for Health Miina Sillanpää
In 1936-47 she was President-by-age of the Riksdag/ Edskunan. She lived
(1866-1952)
1945
Second Minister of Social Affairs for Health Tyyne Leivo-Larsson
1956-57 Second Minister of Social Affairs for Health
1958 Vice Premier Minister and Minister without Portfolio
Between 1945-56 Deputy Mayor of Helsinki, 1958-66 Ambassador to Norway and
Iceland,1966-70 Parliamentary Leader of the Social Democratic Union. She lived
(1902-77)
1948
Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Premier Minister Hertta
Kuusinen-Leino
She was Parliamentary Leader of Soumen Kansan Demokrattinen Liito, The People's
Democratic League, 1954-64 Chairperson of the Communist Party of Finland (CPF).
She was daughter of Otto Kuusinen (1881-
1961) the founder of the CPS in 1918 and President of Karelia in
the USSR 1940-56. She was in exile with him in the USSR 1922, and spend
time in prison 1934-39 and 1941-44 in Finland 1944-66. She lived (1904-74)
1953
and 1954 Second Minister of
Social Affairs and Health Veino Simonsen
1956-57 Second Minister of Agriculture
1959-62 Minister of Social Affairs and Health
1953-54
Second Minister of Social Affairs and Health Irma Karvikko
1957 Minister of Social Affairs
She lived (1900-94)
1954-56 and 1957 Minister of Education Kerttu Saalasti
1957
Minister of Social Affairs Aino Malkamäki
1962-63
Minister of Education Armi Laila Hosia
1962-63
Second Minister of Social Affairs for Health Kyllikki Pohjola
1963 Minister of Social Affairs
She lived (1894-19?)
1964-66
Second Minister of Agriculture Marja Lathi
(b. 1902-)
1968-71
Minister of Health and Social Affairs Anna-Liisa Tiekso
(b. 1929-)
1970
Second Minister of Social Affairs for Health Anli Kyllikki Lathinen
1971 Minister of Health and Social Affairs
1970-71
Second Minister of Education for Culture Meeri Kalavainen
Former Deputy Parliamentary Leader of Soumen Sosialidemokraattinen Pulolue, The
Social Democrats.
1970-71
and
1979-82 Second Minister of Social Affairs for Health Katri-Helena Eskelinen
Deputy Parliamentary Leader of Suomen Keskusta/ Centre Party 1966-70. (b. 1925-)
1970
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Margit Eskman
1971-72 Second Minister of Finance (Taxation)
She lived (1925-90).
1972-76
Second Minister Education for Culture Helmi Marjatta
F. Väänänen
1973 Minister of Nordic Co-operation
1976-77 Minister of Education
1982-83 Minister of Health and Social Affairs
From 1971-86 Deputy Chairperson of the Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland, The Center
Party. (b. 1923-)
1972
Second Minister of Finance (Taxation) Seija Karkinen
1972-75 Minister of Health of Social Affairs
(b. 1936-)
1975
Minister of Justice Prof. Sylvi Interi Antilla
(b. 1916-).
1975-77
Minister of Health and Social Affairs Irma Toivanen
In 1977-79 Parliamentary Leader of Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland. (b. 1922-)
1975-76
Second Minister of Health and Social Affairs Pirkko Anikki Työläjärvi
1977-79 Minister of Health and Social Affairs
1977-82 Minister of Nordic Co-operation
1979-81 Second Minister of Finance (Taxation)
1981-82 Minister of Trade and Industry
From 1982-85 Vice-Speaker of the Riksdag/Edskunan, 1982-83 Chairperson of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, 1985-99 Landshövding-Maraherra (Governor) of Åbo/Turku
and Pori Province. (b. 1938- )
1976-79
Second Minister of Social Affairs for Health Ilmi Orvokki Kangas
1979-82
Minister of Health and Social Affairs Sinikka Luja-Penttilä
1982
Minister of Health and Social Affairs Vappu Tuulikki Taipale
1983-85 Second Minister of Health and Social Affairs
(b.1940-)
1982
Second Minister of Education for Culture Kaarina Elisabeth Suonio
1982-83 Minister of Culture and Science
1983-86 Minister of Education
Governor of Hämeen Lääni/Tavastehus Län 1994-98 (b. 1941-)
1983-87
and
1991-92
Minister of Health and Social Affairs Eeva Kuuskaski-Vikatmää
She was for many year a leading member of the Center Party, and considered a
front-runner in the Presidential elections. But she resigned in protest of the
party's economic policy. The official candidate for the party finished 3rd in
the 1994-elections.
1984-86
Minister of the Interior Kaisa Raatikainen
(b. 1928-)
1986-87
Minister of Education Pirjo Ala-Kapee
Since 1997 Landshövding-Maraherra of Östra Finlands Län/…
1987-91
Minister of Health and Social Affairs Anja Helena Pesola
Since 1990 Director of the Social Insurance Institution.
1987-90
Second Minister of Health and Social Affairs Tarja Kaarina
Halonen
1989-91 Minister of Nordic Co-operation
1990-91 Minister of Justice
1995-2000 Minister of Foreign Affairs
1999 Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of the European Union (1.7-31.12)
2000- President (01.03-)
Member of Parliament 1979-2000, 1984-87 Chairperson of the Social Affairs
Committee and Member of the Presidium of the Parliament,
1989-91 Co-leader of Soumen Sosialidemokraattinen Pulolue, The Social
Democrats. Mother of one daughter. In August 2000 she married her partner trough
a decade, Pentti Arajärvi. They did not live together before they moved
into the Presidential palace. (b. 1943-)
1987-91
Minister of Culture Anna-Liisa Piipari Kasurinen
Member of the Presidium of the Presidential Electorate
In 1978 and 198,
Deputy Parliamentary Leader of Soumen Sosialidemokraattinen Pulolue, The Social
Democrats 1986-87.
1987-91
Second Minister of Finance (Taxation) Ulla Kaija Puolame
In 1984-87 Parliamentary Leader of Kansallinen Kokoomens/ Samlingspartiet, the
Conservative Party. (b. 1931-).
1990-91
Minister of Health and Social Affairs Tuulikki Kariina Hamäläinen
In 1995-99 Chairperson of the Finance Committee and member of the Presidium of
the Edusknan/Riksdag.
1990-95
Minister of Defence M. Elisabeth Rehn
1991-95 Minister of Equality
Between 1983-87 Chairperson of the Law-Committee and Member of the Presidium of
the Edskunan,1987-90 Parliamentary Leader of Svenska Folkpartiet, the Swedish
Peoples party, 1995-97 MEP, 1995-99 Assistant Secretary General of the UN,
1995-98 UN-Commissioner for Human Rights in the former Yugoslavia (UN-rapporteur)
1998-99 UN-Representative and Special Co-ordinator in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Personal Representative of Secretary General Koffi Annan
responsible for Police and other Operations. Presidential candidate in 1994 and
2000. (b. 1935-)
1991-94
Minister of Justice Hannele Pokka
Deputy Chairperson of Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland 1986-94, The Center Party and 1993 Candidate in the party's primary-elections for the Presidential
Elections, Since 1995 Landshövding/Maraherra (Governor) of Lapland/Lääpi
(Most northern county of the country.) (b. 1952-)
1991-94
Minister of Education Riita Maria Uosukainen
Speaker of the
Riksdag/Eduskunta
1994-99 and
1999-2000 and 2. Deputy speaker of the Diet from 30.3- till mid-April 1999 during
the coalition negotiations, because the post of President traditionally belongs
to the biggest party, her party, the Conservatives being only the second
largest. As Parliamentary Speaker she is Deputy Head of State.
Presidential Candidate (Finished third in first round)
2000.
(b. 1941-)
1991-95
Second Minister of Education for Culture Tytti Maria Isohookana-Asumaa
(b. 1947-)
1991-95
Minister of Environment Sirpa Maria Pietikäinen
Deputy Chairperson of Conservative Party from 1989. (b. 1957-)
1991-95
Second Minister of Environment for Housing Pirjo Maija Rusonen
Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Kansallinen Kokoomens/
Samlingspartiet, the Conservative Party 1990-01.
1994-95
Minister of Justice Anneli Jäätteenmäki
2003 Prime Minister
In 1991-94 and 1999-2000 Deputy Parliamentary Leader and 2000-03 leader of
Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland, 2003 Speaker of the Eduskunta. Her government
had 18 members - 9 male and 9 female, the government formed after her
resignation only had 8 women and 10 men.
She was elected to the European
Parliament in 2004 and nominate for the post of Quaestor
and Member of the Presidium, by the liberal group, but a conservative was
elected in her place. (b.
1955-).
1995
Second Minister of Environment for Housing Anneli Kariina Taina
1995-99 Minister of Defence
Governor
of Södra Finland
Län/Etelä-Soumen Lääni from 2004. (b. 1951-)
1995-97
Minister of Transport and Communication Tuula Linnainmaa
Landshövding-Maraherra of Etelä-Soume Lääni/Södra (South) Finland's
Län - a newly established county which is part of a new local
administrative structure of the country - since 1997. (b. 1942-)
1995-99 Minister of Social Affairs and Health
and Minister in the Ministry of Environment (Housing)
1999-2000 Minister of Labour
2000-03 Minister of Industry and Trade
2003-05 Minister of Social Affairs and Health Sinikka Mönkäre
(b. 1947-).
1995-99
Minister of Labour Liisa Jaakonsaari
Deputy Parliamentary Leader
1987-93 and since 1992 Second Deputy Chairperson
of Soumen Sosialidemokraattinen Pulolue, The Social Democrats,
1999-2003
and again since 2003
Chairperson of the External Affairs Committee and Member of the Presidium.
In 2003
she was 1. Vice-speaker and
Acting Speaker of the Riksdag. (b. 1946-).
1995-97 Second Minister of Finance (Minister of Taxes), Minister in the Office
of the Primer Minister and in the Ministry of Health and
Social Affairs Arja Alho
Mayor of Helsingfors/Helsingki 1989-95. (b. 1954-).
1995-99
Second Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Minister of Equality
Terttu-Aulikki Huttu-Juntunen
1996-2003
Understate Secretary of Foreign Affairs Kirsti Lintonen
Ambassador to Namibia and Tanzania.
1998-99
Second Minister of Education and Culture Suvi-Anne Siimes
1999-2003 Second Minister of Finance (Taxes) and Minister responsible for Housing
2002-03 Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in charge of Development Aid
Vice-Chairperson 1995-98 and Chairperson of The Left-Wing Alliance 1998-2006. (b. 1963-)
1999-2002
Minister of Culture Suvi Lindén
2007- Minister of Communications
Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Kansallinen Kokoomens/Samlingspartiet
1995-99 and 2003-07
and Chairperson of the Cultural Committee and Member of the Presidium of the Parliament 2002-07 and (b. 1962-)
1999-2002
Minister of Environment and Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Development Aid) Satu Maijastiina Hassi
Vice-Chairperson 1989-91, Parliamentary Leader 1992-93 and 1997, Chairperson of
The Greens, Vihreä Liitto 1997-2001. Her party left the coalition government
in May 2002 after the parliament decided to build another Nuclear Plant. (b. 1951-)
1999-2003
Minister of Education Maija-Liisa Rask
Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Soumen Sosialidemokraattinen
Pulolue
1995-99
. (b. 1951-).
1999-2003
Minister of Social Affairs and Health Marija Riitta Perho
Vice-Chairperson 1993-95 and Secretary General of the of the Kansallinen
Kokoomens/Samlingspartiet. (b. 1948-)
1999-2000
and 2002-03 Second Minister of Social Affairs and Health in charge of Care and Welfare (Basic
Services) Eva Biaudet
Vice-Chairperson 1993-95 and Parliamentary Leader of the Svenska Folkepartiet
1995-99. She resigned as minister as part of the coalition-agreement and was
succeeded by a male minister of the Greens, who was in office for 2 years.
In 2005 she lost the party primary for the post of Presidential Candidate to
a 15 year older man.
(b. 1961-).
2000
Appointed Minister of Labour Virpa Terhikka Puisto (10.-18.2)
She was designated to take over as minister on 25.2, but refrained because of
personal reasons. She was 1. Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group of
the Social Democrats 1995-2000 and again from 2000. (1946-)
2000-07
Minister of Labour Tarja Filatov
She was 2. Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group of the Social Democrats
and was elected 1. Deputy Chairperson when Virpa Puirsto was appointed Minister.
Group Chairperson from 2007. (1963-)
2002-03
Minister of Culture Kaarina Dromberg
Chairperson of the Committee of Culture and Member of the Presidium of the
Parliament 1999-2002. MP for the Conservative Kansallinen
Kokoomens/Samlingspartiet since
(b. 1942-).
2003-07 Second Minister of Finance
(Taxation) and Minister
of Nordic Cooperation Ulla-Maj Wideroos
Group Secretary of Swedish People's Party 1995-99, Deputy Group Chairperson
1999 and Group Chairperson
1999-2003 and from 2007. Her full name is Cecilia Ulla-Maj Wideroos f. Staffans (b. 1951-)
2003-05 Minister of Transport and Communication Leena Luhtasesta
2005-07 Minister of Justice
Social Democrat MP until 2007,
Member of the Presidium and Chairperson of the Economy Committee of the
Parliament 1999-2003. (b. 1941-).
2003-05 Minister of Education Tuula Haatainen
2005-07 Minister of Social Affairs and Health
Deputy Group Chairperson of the Social Democrats and Member of
the Presidium of the Parliament and Chairperson of the Committee of Social
Affairs and Health in 2003. Candidate for the Post of Chairperson of the Social
Democrats in 2005. From 2007 Deputy City Director (Vice-Mayor) and Director of Social Affairs of Helsinki. (b. 1960-).
2003-07 Minister of Culture and
Ecclesiastical Affairs Tanja Karpela
MP for Centern i Finland since 1999. (b. 1970-).
2003-05 and 2006-07 Minister of Foreign
Trade and Development Aid and Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Paula Lehtomäki
2007- Minister of Environment
In the Prime Minister's Office she handles matters
covered by the Government Secretariat for EU Affairs and the Secretariat for the
Finnish EU Presidency, excluding matters related to the European Council,
amendments to the Treaties establishing the European Union and appointments
related to the European Union that come within the mandate of the Prime
Minister's Office.
She was on maternity leave from September 2005-March 2006, and will give birth to her second child later in 2007. (b. 1972-).
200307- Minister of Social Care Liisa Hyssälä
2007- Minister of Social Affairs and Health and Minister at the Ministry of Labour
Deputy Group Chairperson of
the Center Party in 2003. The Jäätteenmäki-government
had 9 male and 9 female members, its successor only 8 women and 10 men.
(b. 1948-).
2005-07 State Secretary of
Social Affairs and Health Leila Kostiainen
The office of politically appointed Secretaries of State to
assist the Minister was introduced in 2005.
2005-07 State Secretary of Social
Care Terttu Savolainen
2007- State Secretary of Social Affairs and Health
2005-06 Minister of
Foreign Trade and Development Aid
and Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Mari Kiviniemi
2007- Minister of Public Administration and Local Government and Minister at the Ministry of the Interior
She was office during the
maternity leave of Paula Lehtommäki. Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Center
Party in 2003 and Vice-Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs committee 2003-04,
when her party passed her over for a ministerial post against all expectations.
Political Advisor of the Prime Minister from 2004. Member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee from 2006. (b. 1968-)
2005-07 Minister of Transport and
Communications Susanna Huovinen
Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group of the Social Democrats
2003-05. (b. 1972-).
2007- Minister of the Interior Anne Holmlund
Conservative (Kokoomuksen, Samlingspartiet) MP from 2002, Deputy Parliamentary Leader in 2007 and member of the Speaker's Conference in the Parliament in 2007. (b. 1964-).
2007- Minister of Immigration and European Affairs, Minister at the Prime Minister´s Office, Minister at the Ministry of Justice and Minister at the Ministry of Labour Astrid Thors
Vice-Chairperson of Svenska Folkpartiet 1992-2000, Candidate for the Party Leadership 2002, former Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Parliament from 2004,
Chairperson
of Folktinget (Swedish Assembly) from 2005. (b. 1957-).
2007-
Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister at the Ministry of the Environment Paula Risikko
Vice-Chairperson of Kokoomuksen (Conservatives) since 2004. (b. 1960-).
2007- Minister of Education Sari Sarkomaa
Vice-Chairperson of Kokoomuksen
(Conservatives)
1999-2004
and Member of the Presidium of the Parliament from 2003.
(b. 1965-)
2007- Minister of Labour
Tarja
Cronberg
An independent MP from 2003, she joined the Green party in
March, two months before she became
Chairperson of Vihreä Liitto in 2005. Lost her bid for re-election in 2007. (b. 1943-).
2007- Minister of Justice Tuija
Brax
Group Chairperson of Vihreä Liitto 1995 and 1999 and Member of the Presidium of the Parliament 2003-07. (b. 1965-).
2007- Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sirrka-Liisa Anttila
Vice-Group Leader of the Center Party 1991-96, Member of the Speaker’s Conference 1991-94 and
Member of the Speaker’s Conference of the Parliament,
1. Deputy Speaker 1994-95/6,
1999-2003 and 2003-06, till 1995 vice-chairman of the European Council and 1996-99 Member of the European Parliament.
2007- Minster of Transport Anu Vehviläinen
2007- State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teija Tiilikainen
2007- State Secretary of Labour Katariina Poskiparta
Former Secretary General of the Green Party.
2007- State Secretary of Education Heljä Misukka
Last update 26.06.07