Jenni Haukio

Jenni Elina Haukio (born 7 April 1977 in Pori, Finland) is a Finnish poet and the First Lady of Finland[1] since 1 March 2012. She is the second wife of the current President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö.

Jenni Haukio
Jenni Haukio in 2008
First Lady of Finland
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 March 2012
President	Sauli Niinistö
Preceded by	Pentti Arajärvi (as First Gentleman)
Personal details
Born	(1977-04-07) 7 April 1977 Pori, Finland
Spouse(s)	Sauli Niinistö ( m. 2009)
Children	1
Alma mater	University of Turku (2001)
Occupation	Poet

Career

Haukio graduated from the University of Turku with a Master of Political Sciences degree in 2001.[2]

She worked at the University of Turku, first as a research assistant and then as a communications officer. From 2003 to 2005 she was a parliamentary assistant, and from 2005 to 2012 she worked for the National Coalition Party. Since February 2012, Haukio has been the programme manager for the Turku Book Fair.[3]

Haukio has published three poetry collections. The first one won a national debut poet contest, Runo-Kaarina, in 1999.[3]

Personal life

Haukio met Sauli Niinistö in 2005, while she was working for the National Coalition Party. Haukio interviewed Niinistö for the Nykypäivä magazine.[4] They later became a couple, but they kept their relationship a secret from the public until their marriage on 3 January 2009.[5] Their first child, a son named Aaro Veli Väinämö Niinistö, was born on 2 February 2018.[1][6]

Jenni Haukio (right) with US-First Lady Melania Trump, US-President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Sauli Niinistö in the 2018 Russia–United States summit in Helsinki.

Jenni Haukio (right) with US-First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House, 2016.

Honours

Finnish decorations

•  Finland : Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland

Foreign decorations

•  Norway : Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (October 2012)[7]
•  Sweden : Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (April 2012)[8]
•  Denmark : Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (April 2013)
•  France: Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit (July 2013)
•  Latvia: Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars (October 2013)
•  Estonia : First Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (May 2014)
•  Poland : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (March 2015)[9]
•  Luxembourg : Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (May 2016)
•  Sweden : Recipient of the 70th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (30 April 2016)[10]
•  Iceland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (May 2018)
•  Germany: Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (September 2018)

References

1. Simola, Inka (9 October 2017). "Some sekosi Sauli Niinistön ja Jenni Haukion lapsiuutisesta: "Tätä olemme hiljaa odottaneet"". Me Naiset. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
2. "Jenni Haukio, spouse of the President of the Republic — The President of the Republic of Finland: Spouse: Biography". Tpk.fi. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
3. "Biography of Jenni Haukio". Presidentti. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
4. "Sauli Niinistön ja Jenni Haukion rakkaustarina: Suhde pysyi vuosia salassa". Ilta-Sanomat. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
5. "Niinistö yllätti kokoomuslaiset "housut kintuissa"". UusiSuomi.fi.
6. "Baby Announcement for President and First Lady". News Now Finland. 9 October 2017. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
7. Noblesse et Royautés Archived 17 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine (French), State visit of President of Finland in Norway, 2012, Photo Archived 17 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine
8. State visit of Finland in Sweden 2012, Photo of presidential and royal couples
9. Monitor Polski z 2015 r. poz. 455 – point 2. (in Polish)
10. Royal Fashion Awards: King Carl Gustaf's Birthday Banquet (Row 3)