'Approval Rating 88%, A Small but Strong Country'... Halonen of Finland, Who Swept the World's No.1 Title [Constitutional Reform, Connecting the Future]

Famous Finnish Character "Moominmamma" as Her Nickname
Policy Decisions Made by Listening to Everyone
A Clear Reflection of Halonen's Governing Philosophy

Tarja Kaarina Halonen is the first female president of Finland. Born in 1943, former President Halonen served as the President of Finland from 2000 to 2012. She was elected in the 2000 presidential election with just over 50% of the vote. However, based on nationwide support for her governance, her approval rating peaked at 88% around 2003.

She was successfully re-elected in 2006 and remained a popular president with approval ratings close to 80% even at the time of her retirement. Former President Halonen is regarded as a career politician and professional administrator who has held various public offices including parliamentary and ministerial positions, and is praised for her pragmatic administrative skills.

Halonen joined the Social Democratic Party in 1971 and served as a lawyer responsible for parliamentary affairs at the Prime Minister's Office, a member of the Helsinki City Council, and was elected as a member of parliament in 1979. During her time as a parliamentarian, she actively advocated for workers' welfare and interests, as well as the rights of women and minorities. She also gained experience as a minister in the Ministries of Justice, Welfare, and Foreign Affairs.

Former Finnish President Tarja Halonen. Photo by Former President Halonen's official website

During Halonen’s presidency, Finland was famous for topping global rankings in various fields. It achieved first place in national integrity, national competitiveness, environmental indices, and international comparisons of academic achievement. She was a key figure in leading Finland to become a small but strong nation.

Following the 2000 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Halonen became the first Finnish president to make an official visit to South Korea in 2002 at the invitation of former President Kim Dae-jung. Her unpretentious approach during that visit is still talked about today. Unlike the close protection typically afforded to high-level leaders, her security detail was notably less intrusive.

Halonen’s unconventional actions, such as entering lecture halls to directly engage with Korean university students, ironing her own clothes, and even going to the swimming pool alone, caused some difficulties for her security personnel at the time. In 2009, she was recognized as one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Forbes, underscoring her global stature.

Her nickname is “Moominmamma.” Moominmamma is a famous character created in Finland. Moominmamma wishes for her family’s happiness and is always ready to help others. When someone makes a mistake, she steps in to mediate, and she always carries delicious food in her handbag. Halonen explained this nickname as meaning “a person who can cut and share cake equally.”

The nickname Moominmamma aligns with Halonen’s fundamental governing philosophy as president, which was to gather the opinions of all Finnish people to decide national policies. In an interview with other media, Halonen stated, “Every leader must listen well to people’s stories. They must have courage and also be able to provide direction.” She added, “But there is an important thing not to forget. A leader does not create change by themselves but enables people to be able to change.”