Jyrki Katainen
Encyclopedia
Jyrki Tapani Katainen is the Prime Minister
of Finland
and chairman of the country's largest party, the National Coalition Party
.
and was a part-time teacher until he became a member of the Siilinjärvi municipal council in 1993. He was elected member of the Finnish Parliament (Eduskunta)
from the district of Northern Savonia
in 1999, served as the vice-chairman of his party since 2001, becoming its leader in 2004.
In March 2003, he was elected Vice President of the European People's Party
(EPP) for a three-year term.
In the 2007 parliamentary election
, the National Coalition led by Katainen won the second place from the Social Democrats
. Katainen became the Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in the new cabinet with Center
, National Coalition, Greens
, and Swedish People's party.
In November 2008, the Financial Times named Katainen as the best finance minister in Europe.
In the Finnish parliamentary election of April 2011, his centre-right National Coalition Party became the largest party for the first time in the history of independent Finland. After long and difficult government-forming negotiations, he was elected Prime Minister by the Finnish Parliament, and his government of six parties (National Coalition, Social Democrats, Left Alliance, Greens, Swedish People's Party and Christian Democrats) was formally appointed by President Tarja Halonen on June 22nd, 2011.
, he is fluent in English
and Swedish
.
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Prime Minister of Finland
The Prime Minister is the Head of Government of Finland. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, who is the Head of State. The current Prime Minister is Jyrki Katainen of the National Coalition Party.-Overview:...
of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and chairman of the country's largest party, the National Coalition Party
National Coalition Party (Finland)
The National Coalition Party is a liberal conservative political party in Finland founded in 1918.The National Coalition Party is one of the four largest parties in Finland, along with the Social Democratic Party, the Centre Party and the True Finns...
.
Career
Katainen grew up in SiilinjärviSiilinjärvi
Siilinjärvi is a municipality of Finland. The name, in Finnish, means "Hedgehog Lake."It is located in Eastern Finland, in Northern Savonia, north of the city of Kuopio. The median age is relatively low; 23% of the population are under 15 years old. The main sources of income are services and...
and was a part-time teacher until he became a member of the Siilinjärvi municipal council in 1993. He was elected member of the Finnish Parliament (Eduskunta)
Parliament of Finland
The Eduskunta , is the parliament of Finland. The unicameral parliament has 200 members and meets in the Parliament House in Helsinki. The latest election to the parliament took place on April 17, 2011.- Constitution :...
from the district of Northern Savonia
Northern Savonia
Northern Savonia is a region in eastern Finland. Kuopio is the largest city in the region.- Historical provinces :For history, geography and culture see: Savonia- Municipalities :Northern Savonia includes 21 municipalities.Seven of them are cities....
in 1999, served as the vice-chairman of his party since 2001, becoming its leader in 2004.
In March 2003, he was elected Vice President of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
(EPP) for a three-year term.
In the 2007 parliamentary election
Finnish parliamentary election, 2007
The Finnish parliamentary election of 2007 was the 35th election to the Eduskunta , held on 18 March 2007 after the termination of the previous parliamentary term. Early voting was possible from the 7–13 March. Two hundred MPs were elected from 15 constituencies.Election themes included a reduction...
, the National Coalition led by Katainen won the second place from the Social Democrats
Social Democratic Party of Finland
The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
. Katainen became the Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in the new cabinet with Center
Centre Party (Finland)
The Centre Party is a centrist and Nordic agrarian political party in Finland. It is one of the four largest political parties in the country, along with the Social Democratic Party , the National Coalition Party and the True Finns , and currently has 35 seats in the Finnish Parliament...
, National Coalition, Greens
Green League
The Green League is a centrist green liberal political party in Finland. It has ten seats in the Finnish Parliament and two in the European Parliament. The current chairperson is Ville Niinistö....
, and Swedish People's party.
In November 2008, the Financial Times named Katainen as the best finance minister in Europe.
In the Finnish parliamentary election of April 2011, his centre-right National Coalition Party became the largest party for the first time in the history of independent Finland. After long and difficult government-forming negotiations, he was elected Prime Minister by the Finnish Parliament, and his government of six parties (National Coalition, Social Democrats, Left Alliance, Greens, Swedish People's Party and Christian Democrats) was formally appointed by President Tarja Halonen on June 22nd, 2011.
Personal life
He is married to Mervi Katainen, and has 2 children. Apart from his native FinnishFinnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
, he is fluent in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
.
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