29 Facts About Timo Soini

Timo Juhani Soini was born on 30 May 1962 and is a Finnish politician who is the co-founder and former leader of the Finns Party.

Timo Soini served as Deputy Prime Minister of Finland from 2015 to 2017 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2019.

Timo Soini was elected as a member of the Espoo city council in 2000, and the Parliament of Finland in 2003.

Timo Soini was a member of the European Parliament from 2009 until 2011, when he returned to the Finnish Parliament.

Helsingin Sanomat concluded that "Timo Soini rewrote the electoral history books".

Timo Soini has become one of the internationally best-known critics of European Union bailouts and safety mechanisms.

In March 2017, Timo Soini announced that he would step down as Chair of the Finns Party in June 2017, causing a hotly contested leadership election.

Timo Soini was expelled from the party along with the other defector MPs.

Timo Soini did not take part in the 2019 parliamentary election and announced soon after the election that he was leaving politics behind.

Timo Soini worked for the food company Linkosuo Oy for two summers in 1981 and 1982 and was Secretary-General and Chairman of the Kehittyvan Suomen Nuorten Liitto from 1983 to 1992.

Timo Soini graduated with a Master of Political Science from the University of Helsinki in 1988, majoring in political theory.

Timo Soini wrote his master's thesis on populism and the Finnish Rural Party.

Timo Soini is a devout Catholic, which he became as a result of his experiences on his many trips to Ireland.

Timo Soini has publicly announced that he is a cordial friend of the state of Israel.

Timo Soini was a member of the Finnish Rural Party, and was its secretary-general from 1992.

Timo Soini ran for a seat in parliament in the spring 1999 elections but lost.

Timo Soini was first elected to the parliament in 2003.

In March 2008, Timo Soini wrote an autobiographical book called Maisterisjatka, published by Tammi.

Timo Soini was invited to speak at the UK Conservative Party Conference in 2011 and again spoke at the UKIP National Conference 2013 in London on 20 September.

Timo Soini received 43 437 personal votes, the highest amount of all of the candidates.

Helsingin Sanomat opined in an editorial that Timo Soini "rewrote the electoral history books".

Timo Soini joined the government as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Timo Soini has frequently visited the United States and received invitations to several establishment meetings, such as National Prayer Breakfast hosted by President Barack Obama.

Timo Soini has commented on European affairs in the American conservative media, for example on Fox News.

In Finland Timo Soini has been seen hosting senior American politicians, such as the conservative former presidential candidate Michele Bachmann in April 2014.

In January 2011, Timo Soini called for Finland to quit all international climate change agreements.

Timo Soini wanted to cancel all recent additions to the energy and environmental taxes.

Timo Soini used the expression: "Green taxes are like shooting yourself in the foot".

Timo Soini was criticised for acting as a brake on climate change solutions by MP Oras Tynkkynen, a Green focusing on climate policy, and for calling Finland the North Korea of climate policy by MP Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, a Social Democrat.