 |
Paivi RasanenFinnish politician, MP
Date of Birth: 19.12.1959
Country:  Finland |
Content:
- Early Life and Political Beginnings
- Leadership of the Christian Democrats
- Minister of Interior
- Conservative Values
- Religious Beliefs
- Controversies
- Refugee Policy
- Accusations of Hate Speech
- Personal Life
Early Life and Political Beginnings
Päivi Räsänen was born in 1958 and studied medicine before entering politics. In 1993, she was elected to the city council of Riihimäki.
Leadership of the Christian Democrats
In 2004, Räsänen became the chairwoman of the Finnish Christian Democrats. She was re-elected multiple times, including at the party congress in 2011 and 2013. She stepped down as chairwoman in 2015 and was succeeded by Sari Essayah.
Minister of Interior
From 2011 to 2015, Räsänen served as Minister of Interior of Finland. She proposed abolishing the Finnish road police to reduce government spending. She also sparked controversy by expressing opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage.
Conservative Values
Räsänen is known for her conservative views on family and gender issues. She opposes abortion and premarital sex. She also advocates for a distinction between the infertility of unmarried and married women.
Religious Beliefs
Räsänen is a devout Christian and has argued for the subordinate role of women in the family based on Biblical and Lutheran texts. She has collaborated with the conservative organization Luther Foundation, which has created a parallel church hierarchy in Finland.
Controversies
In 2013, Räsänen's speech at a religious event generated criticism when she stated that the Bible carries more weight than legislation in certain situations and compared abortion to the killing of animals. Her home was vandalized as a result.
Refugee Policy
Räsänen has expressed the opinion that Christian refugees should be prioritized over Muslims seeking asylum in Finland.
Accusations of Hate Speech
In 2021, Räsänen was charged with three counts of aggravated hate speech for tweets and other statements she made about the Helsinki Pride event and homosexuality. The prosecution requested a fine of 120 days' earnings. However, the Helsinki District Court acquitted Räsänen in 2022.
Personal Life
Päivi Räsänen is married to Niilo Räsänen, a doctor of theology. They have five children: Sakari, Saara, Mirjami, Esteri, and Juulia.
