Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Parliament of Finland  (Rural women got communal 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, Finland Ministers and Sametinget

Eskukunta or Riksdag - National Assembly

1924 Members of the Speaker’s Conference Hedvig Gebhard
As Chairperson of the Social Affairs Committee, 1937 Economic Councillor of Helsingki. She lived (1867-1961)

1925-26 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Amanda (Mandi) Hannula
As Chairperson of the Expert Committee. She lived (1880-1952)

1936-47 President-by-age Miina Sillanpää
Between 1927-28 she was the Scond Minister of Health

1945-46 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Hertta Elina Kuusinen
As Chairperson the Culture Committee.

1947 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Sylvi-Kyllikki Kilpi
As Chairperson the Culture Committee. She lived (1899-1987)

1948-49 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Anna Elvira Nevalainen
As Chairperson of the Culture Committee

19 62-68 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Anna-Liisa Tiekso
1972-73 Member of the Speaker’s Conference
First as Chairperson of the Culture Committee and secondly for the Grand Committee.

1975-78 II. Deputy Speaker Anna-Liisa Linkola

1975-78  Member of the Speaker’s Conference Siiri Alina Lehmonen
As Chairperson of the Grand Committee,

1978-79 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Sinikka Marjatta Luja-Penttilä
As Chairperson of the Social Affairs' Committee.

1979-82 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Lauha Unelma Männistö
As Chairperson of the Grand Coommittee

1982 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Pirkko A. Työläjärvi
1983-85 I. Deputy Speaker
First as Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs' Committee.

1982 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Seija Marjatta Karkinen
As Chairperson of the Economics Committee.

1983-86 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Maija Ilta Meilikki Rajatie
As Chairperson of the Economics Committee.

1983-86 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Heli Hellevi Astala
As Chairperson of the Culture Committee.

1983-87 Members of the Speaker’s Conference Elisabeth Rehn
As Chairperson of the Law Committee.

1983-90 Members of the Speaker’s Conference Vappu Johanna Säilynoja
As Chairperson of the "Toisen lakivaliokunnan" - the latter part of the committee's name means law.

1984-86 and 1995 Member of the Speaker's Conference Tarja Halonen
First as Chairperson of the Social Affairs Committee and then the Grand Committe. Held various Cabinet Posts among others as Foreign Minister and from 2000 President of the Republic.

1987-91 I. Deputy Speaker Elsi Hetemäki-Olander
Former President of the Nordic Council.

1984-87 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Tarja Halonen
1995 Member of the Speaker’s Conference
As Chairperson of the Social Affairs Committee. Longtime Minister and from 2000 President of the Republic

1991 II. Deputy Speaker Ritva Laurila

1991-94 I. Deputy Speaker Saara-Maria Paakkinen

1991-94 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Sirkka-Liisa Anttila
1994-95 1. Deputy Speaker (or 1995-96)
1999-2003 1. Deputy Speaker
2003-06 Member of the Speaker’s Conference
2006-07 1. Deputy Speaker
Between 1991-96 Vice-Group Leader of the Center Party, till 1995 vice-chairman of the European Council, 1996-99 Member of the European Parliament. After the formation of the new government in April 2003, she was defeated as her party's nominee for the post of deputy speaker, and when he then became Defence Minister in June she again lost her party's nomination to a 52 years old unknown male backbencher who never previously held any office during his 10 years as an MP. 1991-94 and from 2003 she was Chairperson of the Committee of Agriculture and Forests until she again became Deputy Speaker. (b. 1943-).

1991 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Ulpu Marjatta Ilvari
As Chairperson of the Foreign Affair's Committee.

1991-94 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Riitta Maire Kaarina Jouppila
As Chairperson of the Culture Committee

1991 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Riitta Uosukainen
1994 Speaker
1995 II. Deputy Speaker
1995-98 Speaker
1999 II. Deputy Speaker
1999-2003 Speaker
First as Chairperson of the Culture Committee, 1991-94 Minister of Education. It was part of the coalition-agreement between the Social Democrats, Conservative, Liberal Swedish People’s Party and the Leftwing Alliance, that the Conservative’s were going to have the post of parliamentary speaker. But the post traditionally belongs to the largest Faction in the Party. Therefore she was deputy speaker for a couple of weeks in 1995 and 1999 until the coalition deals were finalized for the second time. This took place after the new parliament had met for the first time.

1995-98 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Kirsti Ala-Karja
As Chairperson of the Culture Committee

1995-98 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Tuulikki K. Hämäläinen
As Chairperson of the Economics Committee

1996-99 II. Deputy Speaker Kerttu Annikki Törnquist
In 1996 all three Deputy Speakers were women (from 2003 there were no women at all)

1997-98 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Virpa Puisto  
As Chairperson of the Social Affairs' Committee.

1999-2003 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Liisa Jaakonsaari
2003 I. Deputy Speaker
2003 Acting Speaker (15.04-22.04)
2003- Member of the Speaker’s Conference
In 1987-93 Deputy Parliamentary Leader and since 1992 Second Deputy Chairperson of The Social Democrats, 1995-99 Minister of Labour, 1999-2003 and again from 2003 Chairperson of the External Affairs Committee.

1999-2003 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Leena Ta. Luhtanen  
As Chairperson of the Economy Committee and from 2003 Minister of Transport and Communication.

1999-2003 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Maria-Kaisa Aula
Between 1996-98 Vice-Chairperson of Centern. Chairperson of the Finance Committee.

1999-2003 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Marjatta Vehkaoja  
As Chairperson of the Social Affairs and Health Committee

1999-2002 and 2003- Member of the Speaker’s Conference Kaarina Dromberg
As Chairperson of the Culture Committee and Minister of Culture 2002-03.

2003 Speaker Anneli Jäätteenmäki (25.03-15.04)
In 1991-94 and 1999-2000 Deputy Parliamentary Leader and since 2000 leader of Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland, 1994-95 Minister of Justice and from 2003 Premier Minister.

2003-07 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Sari Sarkoma
As Chairperson of the Culture Committee.

2003-07 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Tuija Brax
Former Parliamentary Leader of the Green Party. Chairperson of the Committee of Law.

2003 Member of the Speaker’s Conference Tuula Haatainen
As Chairperson of the Committee of Social Affairs and Health and Vice-Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group of the Social Democrats in 2003 before becoming Minister of Health. 

2007 Member of the Speaker's Conference Anne Holmlund

2007- Member of the Speaker's Conference Heli Paasio

2007 Member of the Speaker's Conference Aila Paloniemi

2007 Member of the Speaker's Conference Paula Risikko

2007- Member of the Speaker's Conference Heidi Hautala

2007- Member of the Speaker's Conference Susanna Huovinen 

2007- Member of the Speaker's Conference Marja Tiura

2007- Member of the Speaker's Conference Rajia Vahasalo

Last update 22.11.07