Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso. Photo: Sami Perttilä / Finnish Government
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Kaisa Juuso, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, has appointed her son as her new parliamentary assistant. The move has drawn surprise from fellow members of parliament and criticism from political observers.
The assistant, Ville Rajainmäki, began work on 8 September. He will serve until the end of the current parliamentary term in April 2027. His role replaces that of Hannu Peurasaari, who previously held the post. The job is full-time, with a monthly salary of €3,034.
Juuso confirmed the family connection in a text message to Helsingin Sanomat, saying that Rajainmäki is her only child. The news was first reported by Iltalehti.
Helsingin Sanomat reviewed the employment contract, which was signed by Parliament’s Director of Administration Pertti Rauhio. The hiring proposal was submitted by Juuso. Parliament procedure allows MPs to choose their assistants freely. Political groups are not involved in the selection.
When contacted by Helsingin Sanomat, Jani Mäkelä, chair of the Finns parliamentary group, said he was unaware of the appointment. Internal reactions from the group have reportedly included surprise over the family connection.
Rajainmäki is 25 years old. Parliament records contain no information about his educational background.
This is not the first time a Finns party MP has hired a family member. Veijo Niemi employed his own son, and Mikko Polvinen hired his partner as an assistant. Parliament confirms that there are no formal restrictions on such appointments.
Juuso, who is 65, has previously stated that she has one child, born when she was 40. She has described the child as long-awaited and said motherhood gave her insight into the lives of young people in Finland.
The appointment follows a previous controversy involving Juuso’s former assistant Mikko Talso. In spring 2025, Talso sparked backlash after writing in a public Facebook group that people receiving benefits from Kela, the Finnish social insurance institution, were “losers”.
“No one dies of hunger in Finland, Kela takes care of that,” Talso wrote. “If you don’t get food, it’s your own stupidity. You losers waiting for benefits with your hand out without lifting your arse from the chair have earned your poverty.”
He apologised the next day. Juuso responded by calling the comment “unpleasant and unsuccessful”. She stated she did not accept such behaviour from her assistants but said it would be unfair to end the employment over a single incident. Talso left the position on 31 August.
Meanwhile, Juuso has also faced criticism over the reduction of hospital services in her home region of Lapland. During a recent visit, she was confronted by local residents over cuts at Länsi-Pohja Hospital. The Ministry of Finance’s evaluation group has recommended transferring even more services from Kemi to Rovaniemi, contrary to earlier government plans.
Parliament passed the hospital network law under Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government. The law already shifted surgical procedures from Kemi to Rovaniemi. Day surgeries were to remain in Kemi, but the new proposal would centralise them in Rovaniemi as well.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
