Jutta Pauliina Urpilainen (born 4 August 1975) is a Finnish politician. She was the first female chair of the Social Democratic Party of Finland, which she led from 2008 to 2014. She was the Minister of Finance as well as the Deputy Prime Minister of Finland from 2011 to 2014. Between 2019 and 2024, she served as the European Commissioner for International Partnerships in the first von der Leyen Commission. Urpilainen was a candidate in the 2024 election for President of Finland, receiving 4.3% of the vote.

Early life and education Born in Lapua, Southern Ostrobothnia, Urpilainen is the daughter of former politician Kari Urpilainen. She studied at the University of Jyväskylä, where she graduated with a Master's of Education in 2002. During her undergraduate studies, she spent an Erasmus year in Vienna. She worked as a school teacher until her election to Parliament.

Political career Early beginnings Urpilainen served as president of the Young European Federalists of Finland in 2001. She joined the Kokkola city in 2001.

Member of Parliament and party leadership Urpilainen was a member of Parliament for the Vaasa constituency from the 2003 national elections. In parliament, she was a member of the Committee on Education and Culture and a deputy member of the Finance Committee. In addition to her parliamentary work, she was also a member of the Advisory Council of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

Urpilainen was elected as the chair of the Social Democratic Party in June 2008, succeeding former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Eero Heinäluoma. She won on the second ballot, defeating former Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja by 218 votes to 132. During her tenure from 2008 until 2014, support for the Social Democrats fell from 21 to 15.5 percent.Jussi Rosendahl (May 9, 2014), Finland's social democrats oust finance minister Urpilainen Reuters. However, in the 2011 elections, she returned the party to government after four years.Andrew Gardner and Antton Rönnholm (June 12, 2013), Golden girl European Voice.

Minister of Finance After the 2011 parliamentary election, in which the SDP became the second-largest party, Urpilainen was appointed Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet led by Jyrki Katainen. In this capacity, she also chaired the meetings of the Nordic Council Ministers of Finance in 2012.

The surge of the eurosceptic True Finns party in the 2011 elections sparked a move from the Social Democrats under Urpilainen to toughen their stance on the euro significantly, leading Finland to become the only country to demand collateral from Greece and Spain as part of their international rescues.Richard Milne (September 24, 2012), True Finns keep Europe on national agenda Financial Times. On 6 July 2012, Urpilainen said the following on her website: "Finland would prefer to consider leaving the Eurozone rather than to pay other countries' debts in the currency area." International news media, such as The Daily Telegraph, misinterpreted the statement as a threat that Finland would leave the eurozone. Urpilainen's assistant Matti Hirvola later clarified her statements and that she had meant that Finland did not wish to be responsible for paying other countries' debt deposits.Kansainvälinen media tulkitsi Urpilaisen uhkaavan erolla euroalueesta (Helsingin Sanomat) Only one month later, Urpilainen had to revise the government's growth target for that fiscal year down to zero as exports slowed; the only Eurozone countries that fared worse were Greece and Portugal.Richard Milne (August 14, 2012), Finland reports quarterly contraction Financial Times.

Urpilainen sought another term as party chair in the Social Democratic Party's 2014 party conference in May. She was narrowly defeated by her challenger, Antti Rinne, in a 257 to 243 vote. Urpilainen subsequently stepped down as the Minister of Finance in June.

Ahead of the 2018 presidential elections, Urpilainen was widely mentioned as a potential candidate. By February 2017, she announced she would not seek the presidency.

From 2017 until 2019, Urpilainen served as Minister of Foreign Affairs Timo Soini’s Special Representative on Mediation.

European Commissioner

On 1 December 2019, Urpilainen assumed the office of European Commissioner in the Von der Leyen Commission, with the portfolio of international partnerships.

In 2023, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Urpilainen as one of 22 members of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement's lead group.Secretary-General Appoints Global Leaders to Spearhead Fight against Malnutrition at Critical Moment for Food, Nutrition Security United Nations, press release of 1 June 2023. Also since 2023, she has also been a member of the United Nations High-level Panel on the Teaching Profession, co-chaired by Kersti Kaljulaid and Paula-Mae Weekes.United Nations Establishes Teaching Profession High-Level Panel to Build on Outcomes of Transforming Education Summit United Nations, press release of 19 June 2023.

On 16 August 2023, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party Sanna Marin asked Urpilainen to run in the 2024 Finnish presidential election as the party's candidate. After months of consideration, Urpilainen announced her candidacy in November 2023. In the election, she received 4.34% of the total vote count and failed to advance to the second round of voting.

Other activities

European Union organizations European Investment Bank (EIB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2011–2014) European Stability Mechanism (ESM), Member of the Board of Governors (2012–2014)James Kanter (October 7, 2012), Europe Still at Odds Over the Workings of Its Bailout Fund The New York Times.

International organizations Joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee, Member (2013–2014) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2011–2014)2011 Annual Report European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2011–2014) Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank Group, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2011–2014) World Bank, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2011–2014)

Corporate boards Veikkaus, Member of the Board of Directors (2017–2018)

Non-profit organizations

European Leadership Network (ELN), Member (since 2025)Decision of the European Commission on Former Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen’s envisaged post term of office professional activity as member of the European Leadership Network European Commission, statement of 19 November 2025. European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Member of the Council (since 2023)Members European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), Member of the Board (since 2019)Decision-Making Bodies Crisis Management Initiative (CMI). Finnish National Opera Foundation, Member of the Board (2017–2018) Finnish Innovation Fund (SITRA), Member of the Supervisory Board (2017–2018) Finnish National Commission for UNESCO, Chair (2015–2018)

Personal life Urpilainen is married to Juha Mustonen, an official in the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.Andrew Gardner and Antton Rönnholm (June 12, 2013), Golden girl European Voice. In 2017 and 2019, they adopted two children from Colombia.Meet the commissioners Politico Europe, September 9, 2019.

In 2002, Urpilainen recorded a Christmas album called “Christmassy thoughts” featuring versions of “Winter Wonderland” and “Jingle Bells.”Meet the commissioners Politico Europe, September 9, 2019.Suomen kansallisdiskografia search keywords: Jouluisia ajatuksia

References

External links Official website Official website