Born November 4, 1955 in Jyväskylä, Central Finland.
Studied journalism, a Master of Social Sciences.
1985-1988: a correspondent at the local newspaper Kehäsanomat.
1988-1991: Editor-in-Chief of Kehäsanomat.
1981-1984: a member of Espoo City Council.
From 1989: a member of the Nurmijärvi Municipal Council.
1997-2000: a board member of the Regional Council of Uusimaa (Southern Finland).
1976 to present: a member of the Finnish Centre Party (FCP).
1980-1983: chair of the Centre Party Youth League.
2000: elected Deputy Chairman of the Centre Party.
1991 to present: Member of Parliament.
1994-2001: vice chair of the FCP.
1991-1995: vice head of the Parliamentary Environment Committee.
2000-2001: chair of the Parliamentary Grand Committee.
2002-2003: a member of the European Union Constitutional Convention.
April-June 2003: Defence Minister.
June 24, 2003 appointed Prime Minister of Finland.
As a result of victory of the Finnish Centre Party in the March 2007 parliamentary elections, was again given the post of Prime Minister and led the country's government within a coalition comprising the FCP, the National Coalition Party, the Green League and the Swedish People's Party.
Divorced, has two children from his first marriage.