President of the Republic of Finland 1.3.2012–1.3.2024
born 24 August 1948, Salo
Master of Laws, Master of Laws with court training
Married to Jenni Elina Haukio 2009–,
son Aaro b. 2018
Married to Marja-Leena Alanko (d. 1995) 1974–1995 sons Nuutti b. 1975 and Matias b. 1980
Career
Speaker of the Finnish Parliament 2007–2011
Member of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) 2000–2001
Member of the Board of Governors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) 1996–2003, Chairman of the Board of Governors 1999–2000
Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) 2003–2007
Minister of Finance 2.2.1996–17.4.2003
Deputy Prime Minister 13.4.1995–31.8.2001
Minister of Justice 13.4.1995–2.2.1996
Member of Parliament, National Coalition Party 1987–2003, 2007–2011
Assistant Judge of the Turku Court of Appeal 1976–1988
Own law office 1978–1988
Rural Police Chief for the municipality of Kisko 1974–1975
Confidential political posts and offices
Honorary President of the European People’s Party 2003
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) and the Eurogroup 1999
Chairman of the European Democratic Union (EDU) 1998–2002
Chairman of the National Coalition Party 1994–2001
Chair of the City Council of Salo 1989–1992
Member of the City Board of Salo 1977–1988
Member of the City Council of Salo 1977–1992
Honorary degrees
University of Helsinki, Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy 2023
National Defence University, Honorary Doctorate of Military Sciences 2018
University of Minnesota, Doctor of Laws, Honorary Doctor’s degree 2017
University of Helsinki, Honorary Doctorate of Laws 2017
Aalto University School of Business, Honorary Doctorate of Economics 2016
University of Helsinki, Honorary Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine 2015
University of Jyväskylä, Honorary Doctorate of Sport and Health Sciences 2013
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest, Hungary, Honorary Doctorate of Laws 2012
University of Turku, Honorary Doctorate of Laws 2011
University of Tampere, Honorary Doctorate of Administrative Sciences 2010
Publications
“Hiljaisten historia” (“Ordinary People at the Mercy of Great Events”), published 2007, Teos, Helsinki
“Viiden vuoden yksinäisyys” (“Five Years of Solitude”), published 2005, Teos, Helsinki
“Yhteinen raha: eurooppalaisen yhteistyön alku- vai päätepiste?” (“Single Currency: the Beginning or the End of European Cooperation?”) article in the book “Marginaalista ytimeen: Suomi Euroopan unionissa 1989-2003” (“From the Margin to the Centre: Finland in the European Union 1989–2003”), Tammi.
Other
Chairman of the organising committee for the 2009 European Figure Skating Championships
Honorary Chairman of the Tukikummi foundation (combating social exclusion among young people)
Chairman of the Finnish Football Association 2009–2012
Captain in the Finnish Army Reserve