Mar 2 • 09:06 UTC 🇫🇮 Finland Iltalehti

Purra is astonished at the young child ministers: 'I couldn't do it myself'

Riikka Purra expresses on Yle's documentary that she couldn't balance the role of a minister with having young children, questioning how others managed.

In a recent episode of Yle's documentary series 'Hated Women', Finnish Minister of Finance Riikka Purra articulated her astonishment at the number of ministers who managed their careers while raising young children. Purra stated that it is, from her perspective, impossible to combine the responsibilities of a minister with the demands of parenting young kids. She admitted that the time management required for such a dual role is overwhelming and beyond her capability.

During the tenure of former Prime Minister Sanna Marin's government from 2019 to 2023, several ministers juggled their political duties along with parenting; notably, Marin herself, alongside Education Minister Li Andersson and Environment and Climate Minister Maria Ohisalo, all of whom were mothers of young children during this period. This phenomenon was referred to as a 'baby boom' among Finnish ministers and sparked discussions on the challenges faced by women in high political office.

Purra shared her own experience of becoming a mother at 27, before entering politics. Her comments shed light on the broader implications for women in leadership roles, particularly in Finland, as they navigate the complexities of personal and professional life while breaking stereotypes traditionally associated with political leadership.

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