Dr. Päivi Räsänen has been a Member of the Finnish Parliament since 1995, having previously worked as a medical doctor. From 2004 to 2015, Räsänen was the chairwoman of the Finnish Christian Democrats and served for four years as the Minister of the Interior of Finland between 2011-2015. As the Minister of the Interior, Räsänen was responsible for internal security and migration, church affairs at the Ministry of Education and Culture, and matters relating to customs in the Ministry of Finance. Räsänen lives in Riihimäki with her husband, Niilo. They have five children and twelve grandchildren. Räsänen is also a member of Riihimäki City Council, County Council, and a member of the Church Council. She has written several books from a Christian perspective, including on marriage, abortion, and euthanasia. In her current term in office, Räsänen serves as a member of the Social Affairs and Health Committee and a deputy member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
