For the First Time Ever, Finland Picks a Female EU Commissioner

  • Men have represented Finland on the Commission for 25 years
  • Urpilainen is known for hard bargaining during debt crisis

Jutta Urpilainen

Photographer: Roni Rekomaa/Bloomberg
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Finland is putting forward Jutta Urpilainen as its candidate for the European Commission, the first time the Nordic nation is proposing a woman for the job.

“We have had a male commissioner for 25 years,” Urpilainen said after Prime Minister designate Antti Rinne unveiled her candidacy in Helsinki on Tuesday. “Now that Finland has an opportunity to propose a commissioner for the sixth time, it’s great that it’s now a woman’s turn.”