Ilkka Suominen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ministeri (Minister)
Ilkka Suominen
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| Speaker of the Parliament of Finland | |
| In office 2 April 1987 – 5 May 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Erkki Pystynen |
| Succeeded by | Matti Ahde |
| In office 30 April 1991 – 6 February 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Esko Aho |
| Succeeded by | Riitta Uosukainen |
| President of the Nordic Council | |
| In office 1992–1992 |
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| Preceded by | Anker Jørgensen |
| Succeeded by | Jan P. Syse |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 April 1939 Nakkila, Finland |
| Died | 23 May 2022 (aged 83) Helsinki, Finland |
| Political party | National Coalition Party |
| Spouse | Riitta Suominen |
Ilkka Olavi Suominen (born April 8, 1939 – died May 23, 2022) was a well-known Finnish politician. He was a member of the National Coalition Party. He held many important positions during his life, including being the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament and a minister. He also worked on international matters, serving as President of the Nordic Council and as a member of the European Parliament.
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Who Was Ilkka Suominen?
Ilkka Suominen was born in Nakkila, Finland, in 1939. He grew up to become a very active person in Finnish politics. He was part of the National Coalition Party, which is one of Finland's main political groups.
Starting His Political Journey
Suominen first became a member of the Parliament of Finland (which is called the Eduskunta in Finnish) in 1970. He served there for a few years, then returned in 1983. Being a Member of Parliament means helping to make laws and decisions for the country.
Leading the Parliament
One of Ilkka Suominen's most important roles was being the Speaker of the Parliament of Finland. He held this position twice, first in 1987 and again from 1991 to 1993. The Speaker is like the leader of the Parliament's meetings. They make sure discussions are fair and that rules are followed. It's a very respected job.
Working as a Minister
From 1987 to 1991, Ilkka Suominen was the Minister of Trade and Industry. In this job, he was in charge of things like business, factories, and making sure Finland's economy was strong. He worked in the government led by Prime Minister Harri Holkeri.
European and Nordic Roles
Suominen also worked on international issues. In 1992, he was the President of the Nordic Council. This group works to help countries in the Nordic region (like Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland) cooperate on different topics.
Later, from 1999 to 2004, he became a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). This meant he helped make decisions for the whole of Europe. He was part of the European People's Party group in the European Parliament.
Later Life
After his time in the Finnish Parliament, Ilkka Suominen became the CEO of Alko. This is a state-owned company in Finland. He then continued his work in the European Parliament.
Ilkka Suominen passed away in Helsinki, Finland, on May 23, 2022, at the age of 83. He is remembered for his long and important career in Finnish and European politics.
