Li Andersson | |
|---|---|
 Andersson in 2024 | |
| Minister of Education | |
| In office 29 June 2021 (2021-06-29) – 20 June 2023 (2023-06-20) | |
| Prime Minister | Sanna Marin |
| Preceded by | Jussi Saramo |
| Succeeded by | Anna-Maja Henriksson |
| In office 6 June 2019 (2019-06-06) – 17 December 2020 (2020-12-17) | |
| Prime Minister |
|
| Preceded by | Sanni Grahn-Laasonen |
| Succeeded by | Jussi Saramo |
| Leader of theLeft Alliance | |
| In office 11 June 2016 (2016-6-11) – 19 October 2024 (2024-10-19) | |
| Preceded by | Paavo Arhinmäki |
| Succeeded by | Minja Koskela |
| Member of the Finnish Parliament | |
| In office 22 April 2015 (2015-4-22) – 15 July 2024 (2024-7-15) | |
| Constituency | Varsinais-Suomi |
| Member of the European Parliament forFinland | |
| Assumed office 16 July 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Li Sigrid Andersson (1987-05-13)13 May 1987 (age 37) Turku,Southwest Finland, Finland[1] |
| Political party | Left Alliance |
| Other political affiliations | European Left Alliance (EU) |
| Spouse | Juha Pursiainen [fi] |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Åbo Akademi University (BSS) |
| Website | https://liandersson.fi/ |
Li Sigrid Andersson[2] (born 13 May 1987)[3] is a Finno-Swedish politician who served asMinister of Education from 2019 to 2023.[4][5] A former leader of theLeft Alliance, she was aMember of Parliament from 2015 to 2024. She is also a city councillor ofTurku and was chair of the party's youth wing,Left Youth.
Andersson graduated fromÅbo Akademi University in 2010 with aBachelor of Social Science ininternational law, specializing ininternational human rights law andrefugee law, with anacademic minor inRussian language andculture.[6]
In theparliamentary elections of 2015 Andersson was elected with the highest number of personal votes inVarsinais-Suomi (with 17 seats).[7] Candidates in the district included the chairmen of theNational Coalition Party and theGreen League.[8] In the2017 municipal elections, she got the most votes of any candidate outside ofHelsinki placing sixth, nationally.[9]
In February 2016, Andersson announced running forLeft Alliance chair.[10] On 6 June 2016, she received 3,913 (61.85%) votes in an unofficial poll between the party members, after which the other candidates withdrew from the running, leaving her the only remaining candidate. The decision was confirmed on 11 June 2016 at the Left Alliance party meeting inOulu.[11][12]
After the2019 parliamentary election, in which the Left Alliance gained four seats for a total of 16 (out of 200)[13] the party joined theSDP-ledRinne Cabinet. Andersson becameMinister of Education. She temporarily left her ministerial post in December 2020 to go on maternity leave.[14]
In September 2023, Andersson announced her candidacy for the2024 Finnish presidential election.[15] In the election, she received 4.88% of the total vote count and failed to advance to the second round of voting.[16]
On 5 March 2024, Andersson announced that she will relinquish Left Alliance leadership to run as a candidate in theEuropean parliamentary elections.[17]
On 9 June 2024, in the2024 European Parliament election in Finland, Andersson received more votes (247,604) than any other candidate had ever received in a European Parliament election in Finland.[18] In July 2024, she was nominated[19] and elected[20] to chair theCommittee on Employment and Social Affairs, EMPL.[citation needed]
In terms of foreign policy, she advocates for Finland to follow a Nordic policy line withinNATO, promoting deeper cooperation within the alliance while adhering to principles such as the rejection of permanent NATO military bases, installations andnuclear weapons on Finland's soil.[21] Andersson criticized theSipilä Cabinet's approach tointernal devaluation, which she believes has led to declining wages and challenges for low-income earners.[22]
Li Anderssoncohabits with former ice-hockey playerJuha Pursiainen [fi] inTurku.[23][24] She gave birth to their first child, a daughter, in January 2021.[25] Andersson belongs to theSwedish-speaking Finnnational minority.[26]
Order of the White Rose of Finland (Finland, 2022)[27]
| Year | Municipality | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Turku | 175 | Not elected |
| 2012 | Turku | 2,422 | Elected |
| 2017 | Turku | 6,415 | Elected |
| Year | Constituency | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Varsinais-Suomi | 2,170 | Not elected |
| 2015 | Varsinais-Suomi | 15,071 | Elected |
| 2019 | Varsinais-Suomi | 24,404 | Elected |
| Year | Constituency | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Finland | 47,599 | Not elected |
| 2024 | Finland | 247,604 | Elected |
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Education 2019–2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Education 2021–2023 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
