Saarikko made Family Affairs and Social Services Minister

Annika Saarikko, a lawmaker of the ruling Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party), was appointed as the minister of family affairs and social services on Monday.

On the same occasion the president released Juha Rehula from his responsibilities as the minister of the family affairs and social services, said a government press release.

The change in the cabinet is a part of the prior negotiations among the party lawmakers to share the ministerial portfolio among them during the tenure of the government, party sources said.

Annika Saarikko, a master of arts born on July 10, 1983, has been performing as a member of parliament since 2011.

She worked as the deputy leader of Keskusta from 2010 to 2016. Hailed from Turku, she has been also discharging duties as a councillor of the Turku City Council and an assembly member of the Regional Council of Southwest Finland since 2013.