My Story

How I ended up in politics

In the beginning politics was just a hobby. I first got involved in political activity through the National Coalition Party Youth Organization. Next I was engaged in communal politics in 1992 when elected in the City Council of my home town Siilinjärvi. Soon politics turned into a full-time occupation as I was elected into Parliament in 1999. I am passionate about my work. It makes me happy to be able to be engaged in work that I greatly enjoy. In fact, striving for common good has along the years become a way of life.

I have great appreciatiation for professionals in public service, that is, professional politicians. It is a term sometimes imbued with negative connotations, but I also see the other side where proven professionalism and high level of expertise shine through in the work of Members of Parliament and other politicians.

Since 2004 I have served as the Chairman of the National Coalition Party. Leading a political party has been a great challenge through which I have been able to give life and form to my values and worldview honed over many years.

My Family

Our small core family consists of me and my wife Mervi along with our daughters Saara and Veera. Our home is located in Espoo. Managing a busy professional life and commuting between two homes constantly challenges us with ways to find possibilities for being together. Sharing time with one´s family is something very special and we do our best to reserve time for relaxing in one another´s company.

Hobbies

In my spare time I prefer to stay home with my family, engage in sports or go hunting. Cooking and enjoying good food are things I also like very much – my culinary specialty is game meat.

An essential prerequisite to one´s ability to work hard is good physical condition.  I am an avid exercise enthusiast. I go running, to the gym, and in the summertime I go roller skating with poles. My fitness is put to test at regular intervals when I run the annual marathon.

In the autumn I let my mind rest in the nature. I try to book well in advance a few days in the wilderness in the autumn and set out hunting with my father, friends and my Finnish Spitzes. Enjoying the peace in the nature, brewing coffee on a lakeshore and being with my friends and my dogs never fails to recharge my batteries for work.

Liberal Conservative Thinking

Political activity should always be based on values. Interest group activity suits interest groups, but it has no place in the Parliament. Political decision-making entails consideration of larger entities and assuming responsibility for all segments of the population. There are as many values as there are people, but the foundation principle of value-based decision-making is that the society is viewed as one entity – not only from the viewpoint of individual groups.

Among the central values I wish to pursue as a Member of Parliament and envision as guidelines for the National Coalition Party are responsible liberty, equality of opportunities, education, encouragement, tolerance and caring.