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Maria OhisaloFinnish statesman and politician
Date of Birth: 08.03.1985
Country:  Finland |
Content:
- Maria Ohisalo: A Journey from Poverty to Political Leadership
- Political Career
- Public Service
- Elections
- Personal Life
Maria Ohisalo: A Journey from Poverty to Political Leadership
Childhood and EducationMaria Ohisalo was born on March 8, 1985, in a disadvantaged area of Helsinki. Her childhood was marked by poverty and family turmoil, including alcoholism and domestic violence. After spending time in a shelter, she graduated from high school in 2004.
Ohisalo pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor's degree in 2009 and a Master's degree in 2011, both in social sciences from the University of Helsinki. She continued her studies at the University of Eastern Finland, where she received a PhD in sociology in 2017, focusing on poverty research.
Political Career
Ohisalo joined the Green League in 2008. She was elected deputy chairperson in 2015 and became interim leader in 2018 after the resignation of Touko Aalto due to depression. In 2019, she was elected the new leader of the Green League at the party congress in Pori.
Ohisalo has served as a member of the Helsinki City Council since 2017. She was elected to the Finnish parliament (Eduskunta) from the Helsinki constituency in 2019. In 2022, she was appointed Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.
Public Service
In 2019, Ohisalo became Minister of the Interior. She held that position until 2021, when she took a maternity leave. During her tenure, she implemented reforms to improve the treatment of asylum seekers and victims of domestic violence.
Elections
Ohisalo has participated in several elections. She ran for the European Parliament in 2014, receiving 3,089 votes. She contested the parliamentary elections in 2015 but was not elected. In 2019, she was elected to the Eduskunta with 11,797 votes.
Personal Life
Ohisalo is married to Miika Johansson, a senior manager at an oil trading company. They have a daughter who was born in 2021. She enjoys football, athletics, and track cycling.
