Minister Soini has appointed Raili Lahnalampi his Chief of Office, Samuli Virtanen his Secretary of State and Riikka Taivassalo his Special Adviser

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini has chosen Ms Raili Lahnalampi, Master of Laws, to serve as his new Chief of Office. Lahnalampi will take up his duties on 15 June.

Lahnalampi has served as Committee Counsel in the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament and she has a wide experience of foreign and security policy matters. She has worked as Policy Coordinator in the Office of the OECD Secretary General and as Member of Harri Holkeri's Cabinet during his Presidency of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Her diplomatic career includes posts in Paris and New York and she has also gained practical work experience of development issues in Africa.

Lahnalampi is politically independent.

Minister Soini on has chosen Mr Samuli Virtanen, Master of Arts, to serve as his Secretary of State. Virtanen has served as Secretary for International Affairs of the Finns Party Parliamentary Group since 2012. Before that he has worked as parliamentary assistant and freelance translator.

Samuli Virtanen took up his duties on 4 June.

In addition, the Foreign Minister has chosen Ms Riikka Taivassalo, Master of Social Sciences, to serve as his Special Adviser. Taivassalo majored in communications and has worked as parliamentary assistant to Timo Soini, Anne Louhelainen and Jussi Niinistö. She has also worked as a communications officer trainee and media education coach.

Riikka Taivassalo took up her duties on 2 June.

Inquiries: Raili Lahnalampi, tel. +358 50 550 7546, Samuli Virtanen, tel. +358 50 574 1763 and Riikka Taivassalo, tel. +358 46 923 4581.