Tarja Halonen is the first woman elected President of the Republic of Finland.
Born December 24, 1943 in Helsinki into a family of construction workers.
Studied law at University, and after she qualified, she spent several years working as a lawyer in student organisations and trade unions.
1979-1999: Member of Parliament
1987-1990: Minister for Social Affairs and Healthcare.
1990-1991: Justice Minister.
1991-1994: vice chairman of the Finnish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
1995-2000: Foreign Minister.
Leading light in the Finnish Social-Democratic Party.
Elected President of Finland February 6, 2000. Took office as head of state March 1, 2000.
January 29, 2006: Tarja Halonen was re-elected for a second 6-year Presidential term.
She is known for her longstanding work in defending peace and human rights. Devotes particular attention to studying the problems of globalisation.
2002- 2003: co-chair of the World Commission on the Social Dimensions of Globalisation, created under the auspices of the ILO.
Married, has an adult daughter.