Veronica Thörnroos (born 16 July 1962) is a Finnish politician from
Ã…land
Ã…land ( , ; ) is an Federacy, autonomous and Demilitarized zone, demilitarised region of Finland. Receiving its autonomy by a 1920 decision of the League of Nations, it is the smallest region of Finland by both area () and population (30,54 ...
. She served as the
Premier of Åland, a position she has held from 25 November 2019 to 11 December 2023. Prior to entering politics, Thörnroos worked as a nurse.
Political career
Thörnroos' political career began in 1989 when she was elected to the
Brändö
Brändö is an island Municipalities of Finland, municipality of Åland, Finland. Characteristics of Brändö are the numerous assembly of islands and islets, most important of which are linked by bridges and causeways. The municipality has a pop ...
municipal council. She became a representative of the Provincial Assembly in 2003. In 2009, she also served as Minister of Transport and Minister for Nordic Cooperation until 2011. After that, she served as Minister of Infrastructure, who was responsible for e.g. provincial energy, media and IT affairs.
On 25 November 2019, she was appointed as Premier of Ã…land, having led the
Ã…land Centre in the
2019 Ã…landic legislative election.
In February 2024 Thörnroos resigned from her position as the speaker of the parliament. This was due to a scandal involving a hybrid ferry order that the local government had first ordered, then recalled the order, and finally ordered to pay compensation by the court. Thörnroos had not been entirely honest with her statements regarding the matter. She resigned as the speaker and as the chair of the Åland Centre.
In April 2024 Thörnroos announced that she is starting a new party called
Pro Ã…land, which aims to take part in the upcoming elections.
Personal life
Thörnroos is married to sea captain Jan-Tore Thörnroos, who is known for having been the captain of
MS Mariella during the
sinking of the MS Estonia in 1994 – his ship was the first to arrive on site. The couple have three daughters.
Political posts
*
Premier of Ã…land,
Government of Ã…land
The Government of Ã…land () is the executive authority of Ã…land, an autonomous region of Finland. It is led by the Premier of Ã…land (), who is elected by the Parliament of Ã…land ().
Ã…land Premiers
* Carl Björkman (politician), Carl Björ ...
2019–present
* Member of
Parliament of Ã…land
The Parliament of Ã…land (''Ã…lands lagting'') is the unicameral legislature of Ã…land, an autonomous, Swedish-speaking region of Finland. The Lagting has 30 members who make laws for Ã…land and oversee its government.
Committees
Most parli ...
2003–2009 and 2015–2019
* Minister for Infrastructure,
Government of Ã…land
The Government of Ã…land () is the executive authority of Ã…land, an autonomous region of Finland. It is led by the Premier of Ã…land (), who is elected by the Parliament of Ã…land ().
Ã…land Premiers
* Carl Björkman (politician), Carl Björ ...
2009–2015
* Chairwoman,
Åland Centre Party 2007–2010 and 2017–2024
Honors
*
Order of the Polar Star
The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish language, Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden''), sometimes translated as the Royal Order of the North Star, is a Swedish order of chivalry created by Frederick I of Sweden, King Frederick I on 23 F ...
(Sweden, 2022)
See also
*
Government of Ã…land
The Government of Ã…land () is the executive authority of Ã…land, an autonomous region of Finland. It is led by the Premier of Ã…land (), who is elected by the Parliament of Ã…land ().
Ã…land Premiers
* Carl Björkman (politician), Carl Björ ...
*
Parliament of Ã…land
The Parliament of Ã…land (''Ã…lands lagting'') is the unicameral legislature of Ã…land, an autonomous, Swedish-speaking region of Finland. The Lagting has 30 members who make laws for Ã…land and oversee its government.
Committees
Most parli ...
References
External links
Ålands lagtingÅländsk Center
1962 births
Living people
21st-century Finnish women politicians
Women heads of government of non-sovereign entities
Women government ministers of Ã…land
Premiers of Ã…land
{{Ã…land-bio-stub