Jutta Urpilainen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jutta Urpilainen
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Urpilainen in 2022
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| European Commissioner for International Partnerships | |
| In office 1 December 2019 On leave: 2 December 2023 – 28 January 2024* – 1 December 2024 |
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| President | Ursula von der Leyen |
| Preceded by | Neven Mimica |
| Succeeded by | Jozef Síkela |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Finland | |
| In office 22 June 2011 – 6 June 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | Jyrki Katainen |
| Preceded by | Jyrki Katainen |
| Succeeded by | Antti Rinne |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 22 June 2011 – 6 June 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | Jyrki Katainen |
| Preceded by | Jyrki Katainen |
| Succeeded by | Antti Rinne |
| Leader of the Social Democratic Party | |
| In office 6 June 2008 – 9 May 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Eero Heinäluoma |
| Succeeded by | Antti Rinne |
| Member of the Parliament of Finland | |
| In office 19 March 2003 – 30 November 2019 |
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| Constituency | Vaasa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 August 1975 Lapua, Finland |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party |
| Other political affiliations |
Party of European Socialists |
| Spouse | Juha Mustonen |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Jyväskylä |
| *Margaritis Schinas served as acting commissioner during Urpilainen's leave. | |
Jutta Pauliina Urpilainen (born 4 August 1975) is a Finnish politician. She has held many important roles in Finland and in the European Union. She was the first woman to lead the Social Democratic Party of Finland, a major political party, from 2008 to 2014.
From 2011 to 2014, Jutta Urpilainen served as the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister of Finland. These are very important jobs in the Finnish government. Later, from 2019 to 2024, she worked as the European Commissioner for International Partnerships in the European Commission. In late 2023, she announced she would run for President of Finland.
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Early Life and Education
Jutta Urpilainen was born in Lapua, Finland. Her father, Kari Urpilainen, was also a politician. She went to the University of Jyväskylä and earned a Master's degree in Education in 2002.
During her university studies, she spent a year in Vienna, Austria, as part of the Erasmus Programme. This program allows students to study in other European countries. Before becoming a politician, she worked as a school teacher.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
Jutta Urpilainen began her political journey early. In 2001, she was the president of the Young European Federalists of Finland. This group helps young people learn about and get involved in European politics. She also joined the city council in Kokkola in 2001.
Member of Parliament and Party Leader
In 2003, Jutta Urpilainen was elected to the Finnish Parliament from the Vaasa area. As a Member of Parliament, she worked on committees dealing with education and culture. She also helped with financial matters.
In June 2008, she became the leader of the Social Democratic Party. She was the first woman to hold this position. She led the party until 2014. Under her leadership, the party returned to government in the 2011 elections after being out of power for four years.
Minister of Finance Role
After the 2011 elections, the Social Democratic Party became the second-largest party in Finland. Jutta Urpilainen was then chosen to be the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister. This meant she was in charge of Finland's money matters and was the second-highest leader in the government.
In this role, she also led meetings for the finance ministers of the Nordic countries in 2012. She worked to make sure Finland's economy stayed strong during challenging times in Europe.
In 2014, she ran again to be the leader of her party but was narrowly defeated by Antti Rinne. After this, she stepped down from her role as Minister of Finance.
Becoming a European Commissioner
On 1 December 2019, Jutta Urpilainen took on a new, big role: European Commissioner for International Partnerships. This means she works for the European Union to help build strong relationships with countries outside of Europe. She focuses on things like development, aid, and working together on global issues.
In 2023, the United Nations asked her to join two important groups. One group works on improving nutrition around the world, and the other focuses on supporting teachers.
In November 2023, she announced she would run for President of Finland in the 2024 election. She received some votes but did not make it to the second round.
Other Activities
Jutta Urpilainen has been involved in many other important groups and organizations. These include:
- European Investment Bank (EIB), which helps fund projects in Europe.
- European Stability Mechanism (ESM), which helps countries in the Eurozone.
- World Bank, which helps countries around the world with development.
- European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), a group that discusses foreign policy.
- Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), an organization that works to prevent and resolve conflicts.
Personal Life
Jutta Urpilainen is married to Juha Mustonen, who works for the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. They have two children, whom they adopted from Colombia in 2017 and 2019.
Outside of politics, Jutta Urpilainen has a hidden talent! In 2002, she recorded a Christmas album called “Christmassy thoughts.” It included her versions of classic songs like “Winter Wonderland” and “Jingle Bells.”
Images for kids
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Urpilainen and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on 6 February 2020
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Urpilainen testifies before the European Parliament in 2019
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Jutta Urpilainen with Moussa Faki Mahamat African Union Commission Chairperson in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on October 03, 2023.
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See also
In Spanish: Jutta Urpilainen para niños
