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Minister of Justice Leena Meri
The Finns Party
Ministry of Justice
Minister of Justice Leena Meri heads the Ministry of Justice.
Minister Meri is responsible for all other matters covered by the Ministry of Justice except for those related to the autonomy of Åland, which fall under the responsibility of Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen.
Profile
Leena Meri was born on 12 April 1968 in Helsinki, where she also spent her childhood and youth.
Having completed her general upper secondary education at Töölön yhteiskoulu in 1987, Meri continued her studies at the University of Helsinki and graduated with a Master of Laws degree in 2000. Her Master's thesis, entitled Jäämistösuunnittelu ja uusperhe ('Estate Planning and Blended Families'), dealt with family and inheritance law. Meri completed her court training at Riihimäki District Court and was awarded the honorary title of Master of Laws (Trained on the Bench) in 2003.
Meri has served as a Member of Parliament since 2015. In 2017–2019, she chaired the Finns Party Parliamentary Group.
She chaired the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament from June 2019 to June 2023. She was elected the first deputy party leader of the Finns Party in August 2021.
Meri, who currently lives in Hyvinkää, is also actively involved in municipal politics. She has been a member of Hyvinkää City Council since 2013, and she was also a member and vice chair of Hyvinkää City Executive in 2013–2023.
Before entering politics, Meri worked in several fields of law, including as a district registrar and referendary at a court of appeal and at the Insurance Court and as an associate lawyer at a law firm. Earlier, she also had a law firm of her own.
Meri is known as an animal lover, and she has two rescue dogs. She is also a co-owner of a Finnhorse.
Personal details
Member of Parliament
The Finns Party
Date and place of birth: 12.4.1968 Helsinki
Domicile: Hyvinkää
Minister of Justice 20.6.2023 -
Days in office 555
Previous ministerial duties
Further information
The ministries are not responsible for the contents or maintenance of government ministers' personal websites.
Ministerial duties
- Orpo - Minister of Justice 20.6.2023 - (The Finns Party)
Contact details
Secretary to the Minister
Tuuli Mustonen
Tel +358 295 150 125
[email protected]
To request an interview with
the Minister, contact viestinta.om(at)gov.fi and
the Secretary to the Minister by email during office hours.
State secretary
Teija Makkonen
Tel. +358 295 150 251
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant
Johanna Jokela
Tel. +358 295 150 144
[email protected]
Assistants to the Minister
Special Adviser Timo Karhunen
(Private law & Administration of Justice, Public law,
democracy & elections, equality, economic policy)
Tel. +358 295 150 259
[email protected]
Special Adviser Markus Liesegang
(criminal policy & criminal law)
Tel. +358 295 150 329
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant
Roosa Rantanen
Tel. +358 295 150 309
[email protected]
Ministry of Justice
Meritullinkatu 10, Helsinki
PO Box 25, FI-00023 Government
Switchboard: tel. +358 295 16001