14 Facts About Elisabeth Rehn

Marta Elisabeth Rehn is a Finnish former politician and diplomat.

Elisabeth Rehn served as the Minister of Defence of Finland during 1990 to 1995 and as an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations during 1998 to 1999.

Elisabeth Rehn was a member of the Finnish Parliament and parliamentary leader of the Swedish People's Party of Finland, and a member of the European Parliament.

Elisabeth Rehn spent her childhood in Mantsala, where her father worked as a community medical doctor.

Elisabeth Rehn went to a local school in Mantsala before entering a boarding school in Kauniainen.

Elisabeth Rehn received a Master of Science degree in economics from Hanken School of Economics in 1957 and has honorary doctorates in political science from both Hanken School of Economics and Abo Akademi University and an honorary doctorate in military science from the National Defence University.

Elisabeth Rehn was first elected as a member of parliament for Uusimaa in 1979.

Elisabeth Rehn was the parliamentary leader of the Swedish People's Party of Finland from 1987 to 1990.

Elisabeth Rehn was appointed as Minister of Defence to the Holkeri Cabinet, succeededing Ole Norrback, in 1990.

When Esko Aho succeeded Harri Holkeri as Prime Minister of Finland in 1991, Elisabeth Rehn was retained as defence minister and, in addition, was appointed Minister of Equality Affairs in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Elisabeth Rehn earned enough votes in early elections to make it to the final round, in which she faced diplomat Martti Ahtisaari of the Social Democratic Party of Finland.

Elisabeth Rehn's term began on 1 January 1995 and she remained in office until 10 November 1996.

Elisabeth Rehn was a member of the Global Leadership Foundation until November 2017.

Elisabeth Rehn recovered from colon cancer in the 1990s and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000.