Anne Elisabeth Holmlund (born 18 April 1964) is a Finnish politician and Minister of the Interior of Finland from 2007 to 2011. She was a Member of Parliament for the National Coalition Party from 2002 until 2015.
Anne Holmlund | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of the Interior[1] | |
| In office 19 April 2007 – 22 June 2011 | |
| President | Tarja Halonen |
| Prime Minister | Matti Vanhanen Mari Kiviniemi |
| Preceded by | Olli-Pekka Heinonen |
| Succeeded by | Päivi Räsänen |
| Member of the Parliament of Finland | |
| In office 2 February 2002 – 21 April 2015 | |
| Constituency | Satakunta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anne Elisabeth Holmlund 18 April 1964 Pori, Finland |
| Political party | National Coalition Party |
| Spouse | Jarmo Peltomaa |
| Residence | Ulvila |
| Occupation | Politician |
Political career
editHolmlund has been a member of the city council 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-chairman 2003–2004. She has been a Member of Parliament for the National Coalition Party since 2002. On 19 April 2007 she was chosen to be Interior Minister in Matti Vanhanen's second cabinet.[2]
After the Kauhajoki school shooting in September 2008 Holmlund came under considerable pressure from some members of parliament, particularly those in the Left Alliance,[3] to quit for failing to change legislation in order to prevent the shooting.[4] 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.[5] Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen issued his full support to Holmlund.[5] 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 on to her ministry. Amongst the population, 82% felt she should continue.[3] Holmlund herself stated at a news conference that resignation "would be tantamount to desertion".[6]
Personal life
editHolmlund is married to Jarmo Peltomaa, and her father was Ilmari Holmlund, a known politician from Pori.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Council of State - Ministers of Interior". Valtioneuvosto.fi. Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Parliament of Finland - Anne Holmlund information page". Parliament of Finland. 2008-09-10. Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
- ^ a b "Majority of Finns Stand Behind Interior Minister Holmlund". YLE News. 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
- ^ "Finns face tough questions after killing spree". France 24. 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- ^ a b "Calls for Interior Minister to resign; Katainen backs Holmlund". Helsingin Sanomat. 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
- ^ "Finnish interior minister says will not resign". Helsinki Times. 2008-09-25. Retrieved 2009-02-10.[permanent dead link]