Tanja Karpela

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Tanja Karpela
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Minister for Culture
In office
17 April 2003 – 19 April 2007
Prime Minister Anneli Jäätteenmäki
Matti Vanhanen
Preceded by Kaarina Dromberg
Succeeded by Stefan Wallin
Member of Finnish Parliament
for Uusimaa
In office
24 March 1999 – 19 April 2011
Personal details
Born (1970-08-22) 22 August 1970 (age 54)
Salo, Finland
Nationality Finnish
Political party Finnish Centre
Spouse(s) Totti Karpela (1995–1999)
Olli Saarela (2006–2008)
Janne Erjola (2009–)

Tanja Tellervo Karpela[1] (née Vienonen; previously Karpela and Saarela; born 22 August 1970) is a Finnish former politician and former Miss Finland (1991). She was a Member of Parliament 1999–2011[1] and served in the government of Finland as Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2007.[2]

Political Career

Karpela was elected to parliament from the Electoral District of Uusimaa in 1999, representing the Centre Party.[1] She was appointed Minister of Culture in Prime Minister Anneli Jäätteenmäki's cabinet in 2003.[3] After the resignation of Jäätteenmäki, Karpela went on to serve in the same post under Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.[2]

In December 2005 Karpela received a Big Brother Award from the Finnish on-line civil rights organization EFFI for proposing Internet traffic blocking software be installed in schools and libraries.[4] She was also a supporter of the 2005 amendment to the Finnish Copyright Act and Penal Code, which has been nicknamed Lex Karpela[5] due to her acceptance of what many perceive to be a highly controversial addition to the Finnish law. In March 2010, Karpela announced that she is no longer pursuing a parliamentary career following the 2011 parliamentary elections.

Personal Life

Karpela was born in Salo.[2] As a beauty queen, she held the title of Miss Finland and represented her country in the Miss Universe pageant in 1991.[6] Prior to her political career, she also became famous for her work as an underwear and lingerie model.

Karpela is a convicted drunk driver [7][8] and since entering politics, she has become most famous for her relationships – she has remarried twice and broken off a third, separate engagement. Karpela caused a stir in 2001 when it became public that she (a divorcée) was having a relationship with Finance Minister Sauli Niinistö (a widower).[6] Karpela's Centre Party was in opposition and Niinistö was considered the second-most influential man in government. Under close press scrutiny ever since, in 2003 Karpela and Niinistö announced their engagement.[6][9] They broke off their engagement in 2004.[6][10]

On 21 May 2006, Karpela married film director Olli Saarela,[1][2] and took her new husband's surname.[11] She filed for divorce from Olli Saarela in November 2007,[12] and on 22 February 2008 she changed her name back to Karpela.[13]

Karpela has two children (born 1995 and 1998) from her previous marriage to Totti Karpela and one (born 2009) from her third marriage to Janne Erjola.[1][2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 She remains, however, most well known for her colourful personal life which has often hit the headlines in the media – a former underwear model, she is a convicted drink driver and is currently on her third marriage. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ http://www.mtv3.fi/viihde/uutiset/muut.shtml/797569?missit
  8. ↑ http://www.seiska.fi/julkkisbiot/abc/s/_a69387/
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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