Finnish Female Leaders

Finland’s 46th prime minister, Sanna Marin has also previously been the country’s minister of transport and communications. A Social Democratic Party member, she was dragged into a controversy after a video of her partying and dancing became viral in 2022, with critics accusing her of drug abuse.

Finland’s 11th president, Tarja Halonen was also the first Finnish female politician to hold the post. Initially a lawyer at the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions, she stepped into politics as the parliamentary secretary of Finnish prime minister Kalevi Sorsa. She has also been Finland’s minister of justice and foreign affairs.

Finland’s minister of the environment and climate change, Maria Ohisalo has also led her country as its minister of the interior. The Green League leader is also determined to eradicate poverty and homelessness, as she herself grew up amid poverty and had a tough childhood with an alcoholic father.

Finnish Left Alliance politician Li Andersson serves as her country’s minister of education. A socialist feminist, she is also a member of Turku’s City Council. She has also been active in trade unions and has fought for human rights. She has previously led the youth wing of her party, Left Youth.

Finland’s 35th deputy prime minister, politician Katri Kulmuni has also led her country as its minister of finance and economic affairs. The Center Party leader had headed several governing boards, such as that of the World Bank. In 2020, she resigned from the ministry after being accused of spending public money on media training.

Finns Party politician Laura Huhtasaari, who has been a Finnish MP for Satakunta, has also represented Finland as a Member of the European Parliament. Initially an elementary and special education teacher, she stepped into politics as a member of the City Council of Pori. She has previously been accused of plagiarizing her MSc. thesis.

Finland’s 41st prime minister, Mari Kiviniemi was also the country’s second female politician to hold the post. She has previously led the Center Party as its leader and las also led Finland as its minister of public administration and foreign trade. She has also been associated with the OECD as its deputy secretary-general.

Annika Saarikko is a Finnish politician and the current Deputy Prime Minister of Finland as well as the Minister of Finance. A prominent political leader, Saarikko served as the Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services from 2017 to 2019. She also served as the Minister of Science and Culture on two occasions; in 2019 and from 2020 to 2021.

Anna-Maja Henriksson is a Finnish politician and the current Minister of Justice. An influential politician, she had previously served as the Minister of Justice from 22 June 2011 to 29 May 2015. Anna-Maja Henriksson has also been leading the Swedish People's Party since 2016.

A radiology nurse, Ritva Elomaa made her name as a successful bodybuilder. An IFBB Hall of Famer, she was the only non-American to be named Ms. Olympia till 2000. She also had a stint as a pop singer and was later elected to the Finnish parliament as part of the Finns Party.

Sari Essayah is a Finnish former athlete who specialized in race walking. A former European champion and world champion in the 10,000 metres event, Essayah created seven national records during her athletic career. After retiring from sports, Sari Essayah became a politician and is currently serving as the president of the Christian Democrats party.

Anne Berner is a Swiss-Finnish politician and business executive. She is best known for her service as the Minister of Transport and Communications from 2015 to 2019. She is also known for leading an interior design company named Vallila Interior. Berner became a household name in Finland when she appeared in the TV show, Dragons' Den of Finland and Sweden.