4.4.3 Finland: The rainbow cabinet
Description
This article is from the Nordic countries FAQ, by Antti Lahelma and Johan Olofsson, with numerous contributions by others.
4.4.3 Finland: The rainbow cabinet
The new cabinet appointed by president Ahtisaari is nicknamed
"Rainbow cabinet" as it includes 7 Social Democrats, 5
Conservatives, 2 (ex-)Communists, 2 ethnic Swedes, one Green
and one independent minister. The only major party left out is
the Centre, which dominates rural Finland. Cuts in agricultural
subsidies are expected. The notion of Conservatives and
Communists in the same cabinet is unheard before, as is the
presence of the Green (party chairman Pekka Haavisto, who lost
his seat in the Parliament), as Minister of Environment. 11 men
and 7 women.
Prime Minister: Paavo Lipponen (born 1941). The slow-speaking,
197cm tall chairman of the Social Democratic Party was the
first Finnish politician to suggest EC membership, at a time
when it was highly unrealistic and potentially career-damaging
(anti-Soviet).
Foreign Minister: Tarja Halonen (SocDem). A surprise choice.
Red hair and onetime Minister of Justice is all I can remember.
Unless I'm mistaken, our first female Foreign Minister.
Minister of the Treasury: Iiro Viinanen (Cons.) The most hated
member of the former cabinet continues to persecute women,
children and the trade unions. He has also gained much respect
among some people, which shows e.g in that he got one of the
biggest shares of votes in the parliamentary elections of all
candidates.
Second Minister of Treasury: Arja Alho, a Social Democrat from
Helsinki with an independent mind.
Minister of Trade and Commerce: Antti Kalliomäki, vice-chairman
of the Social Democratic Party. A gray bore and former athlete.
Minister of Interior Affairs (such as the Police): Jouni
Backman (SocDem). A totalitarian character. 2nd minister
Jan-Erik Enestam (Swedish People's Party), a municipal leader
from Västanfjärd.
Minister of Labour: Liisa Jaakonsaari (SocDem, from Oulu).
Faces a huge task of reducing the record-high unemployment.
Good luck!
Minister of Justice: Sauli Niinistö, Chairman of the
Conservatives. Lost his wife in a car accident earlier this
year.
Minister of Defence: Anneli Taina (Cons.) Apparently they
decided to make this a permanent women's job.
Minister of Traffic: Tuula Linnainmaa (Cons.) A nobody.
Minister of Education: the 30-year old Conservative Olli-Pekka
Heinonen continues.
Minister of Social and Health Issues: Sinikka Mönkäre (SocDem)
and Terttu Huttu (Comm.), a newcomer from Suomussalmi.
Minister of European Affairs: Ole Norrback, the Ostrobothnian
chairman of the Swedish People's Party and just about our most
provincial politician.
Minister of Culture: Claes Andersson, Comm. Chairman, poet,
jazz pianist, ex-football player, psychiatrist and father of
six or more. It's not often that we see a Minister of Culture
who actually understands something about culture.
Continue to:
My Books
