My story
I was born in 1955 in Lapua in Western Finland. I graduated with a Master of Law with court training in 1980. I worked as a lawyer from 1981 to 1987 before becoming a Member of Parliament in 1987.
I am a member of the Suomen Keskusta (the Finnish Centre Party), part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament.
Between 1987 and 1994 I was a Member of Finland’s delegation to the Nordic Council and Chairwoman of its Environment Committee. From 1994 to 1995 I was a Minister for Justice. During 1995-2003 I was a Vice-Chairwoman of Finland’s delegation to the Council of Europe. From 2003 to 2004 I was a substitute member of Finland’s delegation to the Council of Europe.
In 2000 I became the Vice-Chairwoman of the Centre Party of Finland and Chairwoman from 2002 to 2003. This nomination was remarkable as I was the first Chairwoman in any Finnish big party. In 2005 I elected as Chairwoman of Suomen Keskustanaiset, the biggest political women’s organisation in Finland.
The Centre Party of Finland was in opposition for 8 years before I led them to a victory over the Social Democratic Party, making me the Prime Minister of Finland in 2003.
I was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for Finland in 2004 receiving the highest number of votes with over 149,000.
I live in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, with my spouce Jorma and our Jack Russel Terrier Ronja. Our other apartment is situated in Lapua in Western Finland.
I try to jogg as often as possible. In Brussels, I like to jogg in the big park Cinquantenaire which is situated right beside my apartment. I like also Nordic Walking, reading and arts.
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