Sauli Niinistö

Finnish politician and the 12th President of Finland (2012–2024)

Sauli Väinämö Niinistö (born 24 August 1948) is a former Finnish president. He was President of Finland from 2012 until 2024.

Sauli Niinistö
12th President of Finland
In office
1 March 2012 – 1 March 2024
Prime MinisterJyrki Katainen
Alexander Stubb
Juha Sipilä
Antti Rinne
Sanna Marin
Petteri Orpo
Preceded byTarja Halonen
Succeeded byAlexander Stubb
Speaker of the Finnish Parliament
In office
24 April 2007 – 27 April 2011
Preceded byTimo Kalli
Succeeded byBen Zyskowicz
Minister of Finance
In office
2 February 1996 – 16 April 2003
Prime MinisterPaavo Lipponen
Preceded byIiro Viinanen
Succeeded byAntti Kalliomäki
Deputy Prime Minister of Finland
In office
13 April 1995 – 30 August 2001
Prime MinisterPaavo Lipponen
Preceded byPertti Salolainen
Succeeded byVille Itälä
Minister of Justice
In office
13 April 1995 – 1 February 1996
Prime MinisterPaavo Lipponen
Preceded byAnneli Jäätteenmäki
Succeeded byKari Häkämies
Personal details
Born (1948-08-24) 24 August 1948 (age 76)
Salo, Finland
Political partyNational Coalition Party
Spouse(s)Marja-Leena Niinistö (1974–1995; her death)
Jenni Haukio (2009–present)
ResidenceMäntyniemi, Helsinki
Alma materUniversity of Turku
WebsiteOfficial website
Military service
Branch/serviceFinnish Navy
Rank Captain

A lawyer by education, Niinistö was Minister of Finance from 1996 to 2003 and the National Coalition Party candidate in the 2006 presidential election. He served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland from 2007 to 2011 and has been the Honorary President of the European People's Party (EPP) since 2002.

Niinistö was the National Coalition Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election, beating Pekka Haavisto of the Green League with 62.6% of the vote in the decisive second round. Niinistö assumed office on 1 March 2012, and is the first president from the National Coalition Party since Juho Kusti Paasikivi, who left office in 1956.

Niinistö served on the municipal council of Salo from 1977 to 1992 and was elected a Member of the Finnish Parliament (Eduskunta) from the district of Finland Proper in 1987. In 1994 he was chosen to lead the National Coalition Party as the party chairman

Niinistö's first wife Marja-Leena Niinistö died in a car accident in 1995. Niinistö married his second wife Jenni Haukio (born 1977) in January 2009.Sale on Kona ukko

References

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