Annika Saarikko
Annika Virpi Irene Saarikko is a Finnish politician and minister. She is the vice chairman of the Finnish Centre Party.
Saarikko has bachelor's degree of media studies from the University of Turku.
Her political career got a huge boost on 14 June 2010 in Lahti when she was elected to the vice chair of the Centre Party. She was elected to the Parliament of Finland in 2011 Finnish parliamentary election. From 10 July 2017 to 6 June 2019 Saarikko has been the minister of family affairs and social services. On 6 June 2019 she was appointed as minister of science and culture. Saarikko took maternity leave on 9 August 2019 and was succeeded by Hanna Kosonen as minister of science and culture. Saarikko will reassume her post in August 2020.
