Timo Olavi Harakka (born 31 December 1962) is a Finnish politician. Since April 2015, he has represented the electoral district of Uusimaa in the Parliament of Finland as a Social Democrat.[1]
Timo Harakka | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Harakka in 2020 | |
| Minister of Transport and Communications | |
| In office 10 December 2019 – 20 June 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Sanna Marin |
| Preceded by | Sanna Marin |
| Succeeded by | Lulu Ranne |
| Minister of Labour | |
| In office 6 June 2019 – 10 December 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Antti Rinne |
| Preceded by | Jari Lindström |
| Succeeded by | Tuula Haatainen |
| Member of the Finnish Parliament | |
| Assumed office 22 April 2015 | |
| Constituency | Uusimaa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Timo Olavi Harakka 31 December 1962 Helsinki, Finland |
| Political party | Social Democratic |
| Spouse | Anu Laitila |
| Education | Master of Arts |
| Alma mater | Helsinki Theatre Academy |
| Profession | Journalist, author |
| Website | timoharakka |
In June 2019, Harakka was appointed Minister of Employment in the Rinne Cabinet.[2] He served in the position until the collapse of the cabinet in December 2019, after which he joined the subsequent Marin Cabinet as Minister of Transport and Communications.[3]
Early life and education
Harakka was born in Helsinki. Both parents his were deaf and therefore his first language is Finnish sign language. He worked as a journalist for several years and has been editor-in-chief of both Jyväskylän Ylioppilaslehti, magazine of the students' union of the University of Jyväskylä, and Vihreä Lanka, magazine linked with the Green League. Since 1997 Harakka worked for Yle and hosted television programs called Musta laatikko, Pressiklubi, and 10 kirjaa.[4] In 2005 he graduated from the Helsinki Theatre Academy with a master of arts in theatre and drama.[5]
Political career
In the 2014 European Parliament election Harakka received 22,839 votes and was elected substitute member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party.[6] In the 2015 Finnish parliamentary election he received 5,497 votes from Uusimaa and was elected to the Parliament.[7] He subsequently served the Finance and budget spokesperson of the parliamentary group and member of the Grand Committee of the Parliament.[1] On 15 December 2016 Harakka announced his candidacy for the leadership of Social Democratic Party.[8] He was defeated by the incumbent party leader Antti Rinne in the election on 4 February 2017.[9]
On 6 June 2019, Harakka was appointed Minister of Employment. Early in his tenure, when Finland held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2019, he chaired the meetings of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council.[10]
Political positions
Harakka is well known for colourful initiatives and statements. He has described Boris Johnson's decision 2019 to prorogue parliament as "incredible", and compared it to "banning saunas in Finland".[11]
Honors
Order of the White Rose of Finland (Finland, 2022)[12]
