Anne Holmlund
Encyclopedia
Anne Elisabeth Holmlund is a Finnish
politician
and Interior Minister
of Finland since 2007 until 2011. She has been a Member of Parliament for the National Coalition Party since 2002.
of Ulvila
since 1989, and the council chairman 2001-2002 and 2005-2007. She was a member of the kaupunginhallitus
1993-2000 and the vice-chairmain 2003-2004. She has been a Member of Parliament for the National Coalition Party since 2002. On April 19, 2007 she was chosen to be Interior Minister in Matti Vanhanen's second cabinet
.
After the Kauhajoki school shooting
in September 2008 Holmlund came under considerable pressure from some members of parliament, particularly those in the Left Alliance
, to quit for failing to change legislation in order to prevent the shooting. A similar event in Jokela
had taken place barely a year earlier. Leading the call for her deposition was Anneli Lapintie; Tarja Filatov
, parliamentary group leader of the opposition
Social Democratic Party of Finland
(SDP) also questioned the government over what it had done since the Jokela incident. Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen
issued his full support to Holmlund. A survey by pollster Taloustutkimus for YLE showed that dissension towards Holmlund was not widespread: only a quarter of members from smaller parties felt she should step down, only 10% of SDP members (with 80% supporting her to stay on), and 90% of the government's partners wanted her to hold onto her ministry. Amongst the population, 82% felt she should continue. Holmlund herself stated at a news conference that resignation "would be tantamount to desertion".
Politics of Finland
Politics of Finland takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic and of a multi-party system. The President of Finland is the head of state, leads the foreign policy, and is the Commander-in-chief of the Defense Forces. The Prime Minister of Finland is the head...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Interior Minister
Interior minister
An interior ministry is a government ministry typically responsible for policing, national security, and immigration matters. The ministry is often headed by a minister of the interior or minister of home affairs...
of Finland since 2007 until 2011. She has been a Member of Parliament for the National Coalition Party since 2002.
Political career
Holmlund has been a member of the city councilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
of Ulvila
Ulvila
Ulvila is a town and municipality of Finland. It is one of the six medieval cities of Finland. Its position as city was taken over by Pori in the 16th century....
since 1989, and the council chairman 2001-2002 and 2005-2007. She was a member of the kaupunginhallitus
Kommunstyrelse
The Kommunstyrelse is the executive branch of local government in each of the 290 municipalities of Sweden. The term used in the English version of the Swedish Local Government Act is municipal executive committee...
1993-2000 and the vice-chairmain 2003-2004. She has been a Member of Parliament for the National Coalition Party since 2002. On April 19, 2007 she was chosen to be Interior Minister in Matti Vanhanen's second cabinet
Matti Vanhanen's second cabinet
Matti Vanhanen's second cabinet was the 70th cabinet of Finland. The cabinet was a centre-right/green coalition, consisting of four parties: the Centre Party Matti Vanhanen's second cabinet (April 2007 - June 2010 ) was the 70th cabinet of Finland. The cabinet was a centre-right/green coalition,...
.
After the Kauhajoki school shooting
Kauhajoki school shooting
The Kauhajoki school shooting was a school shooting that occurred on 23 September 2008, at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences in Kauhajoki, a city in Western Finland. The gunman, 22-year-old culinary arts student Matti Juhani Saari, shot and fatally injured ten people with a semi-automatic...
in September 2008 Holmlund came under considerable pressure from some members of parliament, particularly those in the Left Alliance
Left Alliance (Finland)
The Left Alliance is a left-wing political party in Finland. It was founded on the basis of the Finnish People's Democratic League and the Communist Party of Finland in 1990....
, to quit for failing to change legislation in order to prevent the shooting. A similar event in Jokela
Jokela school shooting
The Jokela school massacre was a school shooting that occurred on November 7, 2007, at Jokela High School in Jokela, a town in the municipality of Tuusula, Finland. The gunman, 18-year-old student Pekka-Eric Auvinen, entered the school on that morning armed with a semi-automatic pistol. He killed...
had taken place barely a year earlier. Leading the call for her deposition was Anneli Lapintie; Tarja Filatov
Tarja Filatov
Tarja Filatov is a Finnish member of Parliament representing the Häme constituency since 1995, and a former government minister. She belongs to the Social Democratic Party of Finland , and since February 2010 until April 2011 has been one of the two Deputy Speakers of the Parliament...
, parliamentary group leader of the opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
Social Democratic Party of Finland
Social Democratic Party of Finland
The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
(SDP) also questioned the government over what it had done since the Jokela incident. Minister of Finance 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:...
issued his full support to Holmlund. A survey by pollster Taloustutkimus for YLE showed that dissension towards Holmlund was not widespread: only a quarter of members from smaller parties felt she should step down, only 10% of SDP members (with 80% supporting her to stay on), and 90% of the government's partners wanted her to hold onto her ministry. Amongst the population, 82% felt she should continue. Holmlund herself stated at a news conference that resignation "would be tantamount to desertion".