Päivi Räsänen
Encyclopedia
Päivi Maria Räsänen, née Kuvaja (born December 19, 1959, in Sonkajärvi
, Finland
), is a Finnish
politician
. The chairwoman of the Christian Democrats
since 2004, she is the current Minister of the Interior
of Finland.
A physician
by education, Räsänen got into politics in the early 1990s, running for parliament in 1991. She has been in the Riihimäki
City Council since 1993, and in the Finnish Parliament
since 1995. She was elected the chairperson of the Christian Democrats in October 2, 2004. Resulting from the government formation after the 2011 election, which led to the Christian Democrats joining the government, Räsänen was nominated by the party as the Minister of the Interior
in the 72nd
Finnish Cabinet led by Jyrki Katainen
, and she was inaugurated along with the government on June 22, 2011.
. On October 12, 2010, Räsänen was one of the participants on a live TV debate Homoilta
, the guests of which debated on same-sex marriage and LGBT rights in general. The program was followed by an unprecedented exodus from the Evangelical Lutheran Church
— in a few weeks, nearly 40,000 members left the Church through the website eroakirkosta.fi
. Räsänen was on the show representing her party and herself as a Christian individual alongside with five other opponents of gay marriage, but the resignations were specifically attributed to her by then-Minister of Culture and Sports Stefan Wallin
. Räsänen thinks homosexual acts are a sin and she herself did not consider her views "specifically extreme".
When interviewed by Ylioppilaslehti
on October 29, 2010, Räsänen said that she would favor Christians
over Muslims
when selecting asylum seekers to Finland due to Muslims', in her opinion, "difficulties to adjust to the Finnish culture". Her comments were condemned as "incomprehensible and merciless" by then-Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors
and then-Minister of Culture and Sports Stefan Wallin. Räsänen responded to the criticism, saying her comments were misinterpreted, since she did not consider religion as the main criterion for asylum seekers' admissions, but instead she wanted to highlight the benefits of refugees' integration through religious connections.
During her parliamentary career she has worked in the:
Finnish Delegation to the Nordic Council
Sonkajärvi
Sonkajärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
), is a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. The chairwoman of the Christian Democrats
Christian Democrats (Finland)
The Christian Democrats is a Christian democratic political party in Finland. Formerly known as the Finnish Christian League , the Christian Democrats have six seats in the Finnish Parliament and one in the European Parliament.The party was founded in 1958, chiefly from the Christian faction of...
since 2004, she is the current Minister of the Interior
Minister of the Interior (Finland)
-List of Ministers of the Interior:...
of Finland.
A physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
by education, Räsänen got into politics in the early 1990s, running for parliament in 1991. She has been in the Riihimäki
Riihimäki
Riihimäki is a town and municipality in the south of Finland, about north of Helsinki and southeast of Tampere. It is somewhat of a railway junction, since the railway tracks going from different parts of the nation to Helsinki merge there. Sako, Ltd...
City Council since 1993, and in the Finnish Parliament
Parliament of Finland
The Eduskunta , is the parliament of Finland. The unicameral parliament has 200 members and meets in the Parliament House in Helsinki. The latest election to the parliament took place on April 17, 2011.- Constitution :...
since 1995. She was elected the chairperson of the Christian Democrats in October 2, 2004. Resulting from the government formation after the 2011 election, which led to the Christian Democrats joining the government, Räsänen was nominated by the party as the Minister of the Interior
Minister of the Interior (Finland)
-List of Ministers of the Interior:...
in the 72nd
Jyrki Katainen's cabinet
Jyrki Katainen's cabinet is the 72nd cabinet of Finland, formed as a result of the 2011 post-parliamentary election negotiations between the Finnish parliamentary parties...
Finnish Cabinet led by Jyrki Katainen
Jyrki Katainen
Jyrki Tapani Katainen is the Prime Minister of Finland and chairman of the country's largest party, the National Coalition Party.-Career:...
, and she was inaugurated along with the government on June 22, 2011.
Political positions
Räsänen has been characterized as a conservativeConservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
. On October 12, 2010, Räsänen was one of the participants on a live TV debate Homoilta
Ajankohtainen kakkonen
Ajankohtainen kakkonen is a Finnish current affairs television series broadcast in Finland on TV2 since 1969.-A2 Teema: Homoilta:On October 12, 2010, the program had a special panel discussion episode, A2 Teema, with the title Homoilta...
, the guests of which debated on same-sex marriage and LGBT rights in general. The program was followed by an unprecedented exodus from the Evangelical Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the national church of Finland. The church professes the Lutheran branch of Christianity, and is a member of the Porvoo Communion....
— in a few weeks, nearly 40,000 members left the Church through the website eroakirkosta.fi
Eroakirkosta.fi
Eroakirkosta.fi is a Finnish website which offers an electronic service for resigning from Finland's state churches; the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Finnish Orthodox Church...
. Räsänen was on the show representing her party and herself as a Christian individual alongside with five other opponents of gay marriage, but the resignations were specifically attributed to her by then-Minister of Culture and Sports Stefan Wallin
Stefan Wallin
Stefan Erik Wallin is a Swedish-speaking Finnish politician. He is currently Finland's Minister of Defence in Jyrki Katainen's cabinet....
. Räsänen thinks homosexual acts are a sin and she herself did not consider her views "specifically extreme".
When interviewed by Ylioppilaslehti
Ylioppilaslehti
Ylioppilaslehti is a Finnish student newspaper founded in 1913. The paper is published by a private company Ylioppilaslehden kustannus Oy that is owned by the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. The paper is the largest student paper in Finland with a circulation of 35,000 copies...
on October 29, 2010, Räsänen said that she would favor Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
over Muslims
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
when selecting asylum seekers to Finland due to Muslims', in her opinion, "difficulties to adjust to the Finnish culture". Her comments were condemned as "incomprehensible and merciless" by then-Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors
Astrid Thors
Astrid Thors is a Finland-Swedish politician of the Swedish People's Party. Thors is a Candidate of Law and had several white-collar high-position jobs before being elected into the European Parliament. She served there between 1996 and 2004. She was elected into the Parliament of Finland in 2003...
and then-Minister of Culture and Sports Stefan Wallin. Räsänen responded to the criticism, saying her comments were misinterpreted, since she did not consider religion as the main criterion for asylum seekers' admissions, but instead she wanted to highlight the benefits of refugees' integration through religious connections.
During her parliamentary career she has worked in the:
- Finance Committee
- Education and Culture Committee
- Social Affairs and Health Committee
- Committee for the Future
- Employment and Equality Committee
- Legal Affairs Committee
Finnish Delegation to the Nordic Council
Nordic Council
The Nordic Council is a geo-political, inter-parliamentary forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries. It was established following World War II and its first concrete result was the introduction in 1952 of a common labour market and free movement across borders without passports for the...
- Electors
- Advisory Council of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs
- The Finnish Institute of International AffairsThe Finnish Institute of International AffairsThe Finnish Institute of International Affairs is an independent research institute that produces topical information of a high standard on international relations and the European Union. The Institute takes an active role in public debates and its expertise supports political decision-making. The...
- Inter-Parliamentary Union