Mauri Pekkarinen

Mauri Pekkarinen
Mauri Pekkarinen in 2010.
Minister of Economic Affairs
In office
1 January 2008 – 22 June 2011
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen
Mari Kiviniemi
Succeeded by Jyri Häkämies
Minister of Trade and Industry[1]
In office
17 April 2003 – 31 December 2007
Prime Minister Anneli Jäätteenmäki
Matti Vanhanen
Preceded by Sinikka Mönkäre
Minister of the Interior[2]
In office
26 April 1991 – 13 April 1995
Prime Minister Esko Aho
Preceded by Jarmo Rantanen
Succeeded by Jan-Erik Enestam
Personal details
Born (1947-10-06) 6 October 1947
Kinnula, Finland
Nationality Finnish
Political party Centre Party
Spouse(s) Raija Pekkarinen

Reijo Mauri Matias Pekkarinen (born 6 October 1947, in Kinnula, Finland) is a Finnish politician. He is the Centre Party of Finland (Suomen Keskusta) deputy and secretary, and former Minister of Economic Affairs in the Finnish government.[3] He is known by the nickname "The Parliament Terrier".

Early life

Pekkarinen first became interested in politics as a student at the University of Jyväskylä in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He had long held an interest in economics and society and began to take part in party politics at the age of 24.

Minister of Trade and Industry

As new Minister of Trade and Industry, Pekkarinen stated his goal to "promote entrepreneurship and economic growth and thus contribute to diminishing unemployment, [and] to tackle large issues in the field of energy policy such as the carbon dioxide emissions trade between companies in the EU and the building a new nuclear power reactor in Finland",[3] and has also stated an interest in preserving good relations with France. In 2008 his title was changed to Minister of Economic Affairs.[4]

In addition to politics, Pekkarinen is an avid athlete, and is a noted long distance runner.[5]

Taxes

Mauri Pekkarinen suggested higher food VAT to collect more taxes in January 2014. Reduction of the food VAT was an election theme in Finnish parliamentary election, 2007. Half of the promised food VAT reduction after the elections was implemented as a reduction of VAT on food served in restaurants. Pekkarinen's suggestion of 2014 did not include a cancellation of the reduced restaurant VAT.[6] [7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Finnish Government - Ministers of Trade and Industry". Valtioneuvosto.fi. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  2. ↑ "Council of State - Ministers of Interior". Valtioneuvosto.fi. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 Finpop.net interview, Vincent LeFrancois , 2003, accessed July 3, 2007
  4. ↑ Minister of Economic Affairs – Finnish Government
  5. ↑ Mauri Pekkarinen
  6. ↑ VAT won't increase next year, says Finance Ministry yle 27.1.2014
  7. ↑ VM:n Pekkarinen: Yleinen alv ei nouse ensi vuonna yle 27.1.2014


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