Sarkkinen made Health Minister, Andersson returns after leave

The Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance), lawmaker Hanna Sarkkinen on Tuesday took over as the Minister of Social Affairs and Health replacing her party colleague Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, said an official press release.

Meanwhile, the Vasemmistoliitto Chair, Li Andersson, who went on maternity leave in December last year, returned to her portfolio as the Minister of Education and Culture.

The President appointed Sarkkinen and Andersson as the new ministers and released Jussi Saramo from the post of Minister of Education and Aino-Kaisa Pekonen from the post of Minister of Social Affairs and Health at the same time.

The Vasemmistoliitto Parliamentary Group and Party Council decided to divide the portfolio of the Minister of Social Affairs and Health into two two-year posts at the beginning the present five-party alliance government.

Earlier, on December 17, 2021, the President appointed lawmaker Jussi Saramo, also a vice-chair of the Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance) as minister of education.

Saramo took over the charge of the ministry replacing Andersson as she went on maternity leave.