Education Minister Sarkomaa to leave government for family reasons
First-term MP Henna Virkkunen to replace outgoing minister
Sari Sarkomaa
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Henna Virkkunen
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Minister of Education Sarí Sarkomaa (Nat. Coalition Party) announced on Thursday that she would resign from the government for family reasons. She will be replaced by MP Henna Virkkunen, effective Friday next week.
“I have undoubtedly made the most difficult decision of my life, but without question it is the right one”, said Sarkomaa at a press conference of the National Coalition Party’s Parliamentary group.
Sarkomaa, who appeared to be both relieved and slightly saddened, said that the post of Minister of Education was a “dream job” for her, and that she had enjoyed it.
Sarkomaa emphasised that she felt that balancing her work and her family was a political goal that had covered her entire career.
“I know that I am privileged to make a choice like this in my work”, Sarkomaa said.
When asked, she did not want to describe in any greater detail what kinds of problems there had been in accommodating her duties with her family life.
Both Sarkomaa herself and the National Coalition Party’s chairman, Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen, gave assurances that her move was not a withdrawal from politics, and that she plans to continue as a Member of Parliament, and will run for re-election in 2011.
Sari Sarkomaa was first elected to Parliament in 1999. She is a radiological nurse by training and has a degree in health care.
She lives in Helsinki with her husband and three children, and has been a member of the Helsinki City Council since 1997.
On her own website Sarkomaa wrote about the big differences in class sizes among different schools, and in the same connection she pondered how adults are in a constant hurry, and how children are often very lonely.
“Children and young people need the time of their parents and adults who are close to them, and a caring presence in everyday life in order to be able to grow securely into adulthood. Arranging this time is the right and obligation of us adults. No innovations can ever replace time and care of adults”, Sarkomaa wrote.
In an interview with the online publication Verkkouutiset, Sarkomaa said that the situation in her family is such that the interests of the family requires her to give up her ministerial duties “Now it is time for work to give way.”
“The decision was one of the most difficult in my life, but it is the right one. The demanding task of a minister requires readiness around the clock. Long work days along with much travel mean that in the present situation, my children have to be far too flexible”, she said in the interview.
According to Uusi Suomi, another online publication, Sarkomaa’s 8-year-old son had tried to comfort her, saying “Don’t worry, mother, the children of Finland will understand”.
MP Henna Virkkunen is expected to be named officially to the post already next week. She has a degree in communications, and has worked as a media resercher and as a journalist.
Sarkomaa will continue in office through next week, when Parliament is scheduled to give final approval to next year’s national budget.
Although she is expected to be sworn in already on Friday of next week, the 36-year-old Virkkunen will have the entire Christmas break to acquaint herself with her new ministerial duties.
Virkkunen heads the women’s organisation of the National Coalition Party, and holds the post of deputy chair of the party itself. She is also the chair of the City Council of Jyväskylä, a post which she will give up when she takes her new job.
This is Virkkunen’s first term in Parliament, but she has long been seen as a rising star of the National Coalition Party.
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) said that he understands Sari Sarkomaa’s decision to leave her ministerial post.
Sarkomaa told Vanhanen of her decision already on Tuesday.
Vanhanen said that the government has tried to make it easier for ministers to have time for their families. One way to do this has been to avoid meetings in the evening. However, Vanhanen admits that travel and other obligations take much of a minister’s time.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 12.12.2008 - TODAY |
 Education Minister Sarkomaa to leave government for family reasons |
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