Paavo Arhinmäki

Paavo Erkki Arhinmäki (born 13 December 1976 in Helsinki) is a Finnish politician, a member of the Finnish Parliament and a former Minister for Culture and Sport, representing the Left Alliance, a party who's leader he was from 2009 to 2016. He was first elected to the Finnish Parliament in the 2007 election and re-elected in 2011. Arhinmäki has been a member of the City Council of Helsinki since 2001. He led the Left Youth in 2001–2005. He proposed a halt to nuclear power projects in Finland in the wake of the Great Hanshin earthquake.

Paavo Arhinmaki
Minister of Culture and Sport
In office
22 June 2011 (2011-06-22) – 4 April 2014 (2014-04-04)
Prime MinisterJyrki Katainen
Preceded byStefan Wallin
Succeeded byPia Viitanen
Member of the Finnish Parliament
Assumed office
21 March 2007
ConstituencyHelsinki
Personal details
Born (1976-12-13) 13 December 1976
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
Political partyLeft Alliance

After the 2011 election the Left Alliance became a partner in the six-party grand coalition cabinet led by Jyrki Katainen. Being a football enthusiast, Arhinmäki became Minister for Culture and Sport and the party gained another ministerial portfolio as well. The decision to join the government created a split in the party, leading to the expulsion of two MPs from the parliamentary group. Later Arhinmäki became the subject of media criticism after a drinking binge at the Sochi Winter Olympics in February 2014.[1] In 2014 Left Alliance left the cabinet over a dispute on a package of spending cuts and tax rises.[2]

In 2012 Arhinmäki was a Left Alliance candidate in the Finnish Presidential Elections, finishing 6th with 5.5% of the total votes in the first round of voting.

In April 2016, Arhinmäki announced that he wouldn't seek another term as the party leader.[3] On 11 June 2016, he was followed by Li Andersson.[4]

References
  1. http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/9526-arhinmaeki-apologises-for-his-conduct-party-got-out-of-hand.html
  2. http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/politics/9943-left-alliance-leaves-government.html
  3. "Puheenjohtajuuden jättävä Arhinmäki Ylellä: Enemmän aikaa perheelle". Iltalehti. 2016-04-30. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  4. "Li Andersson kruunattiin virallisesti puheenjohtajaksi". Iltalehti. 2016-06-11. Retrieved 2016-06-11.


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