Timo Soini

Timo Juhani Soini (born 30 May 1962 Rauma ) is a Finnish politician. He is a co-founder and current president of the party base Finns. Since the parliamentary elections in Finland 2011 he has been a Member of the Finnish Parliament. Previously, he was a member of the Espoo City Council, since 2003 Member of the Finnish Parliament and the European election since 2009 Member of the European Parliament since 2000.

Biography

Timo Soini was born in 1962 as son of Martti Olavi Soini and his wife Eeva Sisko ( Soini ). After he had completed the Kaitaan lukio High School in Espoo, he studied from 1981 Political Science at the University of Helsinki. In 1988 he completed his studies here with an essay on populism as a Master of Social Sciences.

Soini was a member and from 1992 to 1995 Secretary of Suomen Maaseudun puolue, which merged in 1995 in the newly founded party base Finns ( Perussuomalaiset, PerusS ). 1997 Soini successor by Raimo Vistbacka as party president. In the elections for Finnish President Soini 2006 as a candidate of his party reached 3.4 percent and cut so that from the fifth- best in the eight candidates. In February 2009, Soini announced its membership in the pan-European organization Libertas, which rejects the Treaty of Lisbon. Through membership Soinis Libertas filled temporarily the necessary criteria to be recognized as a European political party. In 2012 he ran again for the base fins for the office of President of Finland. With 9.4%, he came in fourth place.

Politically, Soini is committed to the preservation of Finnish sovereignty, which includes a withdrawal from the European Union in his eyes. Similarly, Soini has spoken out against NATO membership for Finland and a restrictive asylum policies.

Timo Soini is Roman Catholic ( an exception in the Lutheran Finland). After his admission, his visits and contacts in Catholic Ireland brought him to conversion.

Timo Soini is married to the doctor Tiina Soini Maarit since 1996. The couple has two children.