Veronica Thörnroos (born 16 July 1962) is a Finnish politician from

Åland Åland ( , ; ) 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 Åland, having led the Åland Centre in the 2019 Ålandic 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 Åland, 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 Åland,

Government of Åland The Government of Åland () is the executive authority of Åland, an autonomous region of Finland. It is led by the Premier of Åland (), who is elected by the Parliament of Åland (). Åland Premiers * Carl Björkman (politician), Carl Björ ...

2019–present * Member of

Parliament of Åland The Parliament of Åland (''Ålands lagting'') is the unicameral legislature of Åland, an autonomous, Swedish-speaking region of Finland. The Lagting has 30 members who make laws for Åland and oversee its government. Committees Most parli ...

2003–2009 and 2015–2019 * Minister for Infrastructure,

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)

References

External links