Paavo Lipponen

Infobox_Prime Minister
name = Paavo Lipponen
nationality = Finnish

---

office = Speaker of the Parliament of Finland
term_start = March 24, 2003
term_end = March 20, 2007
predecessor = Riitta Uosukainen
successor = Sauli Niinistö
office2 = Member of the Parliament of Finland
term_start2 = March 23, 1991
term_end2 = March 20, 2007
constituency2 = Helsinki
office3 =
term_start3 = March 26, 1983
term_end3 = March 20, 1987
constituency3 = Helsinki
order4 = 60th Prime Minister of Finland
term_start4 = 13 April 1995
term_end4 = 17 April 2003
deputy4 = Sauli Niinistö
predecessor4 = Esko Aho
successor4 = Anneli Jäätteenmäki
birth_date = birth date and age|1941|4|23
birth_place = Turtola, Finland
death_date =
death_place =
party = Social Democratic Party of Finland
spouse = Päivi Lipponen
profession = Master of Political Sciences
nicknames =
languagesspoken =

Paavo Tapio Lipponen (Audio|Fi-Paavo_Lipponen.ogg|pronunciation) (b. April 23, 1941) is a Finnish politician. He was Prime Minister of Finland from 1995 to 2003, and Chairman of the Finnish Social Democratic Party from 1993 to 2005. He also served as Speaker of the Parliament of Finland 2003-2007.

Born in "Turtola" (subsequently renamed Pello), Paavo Lipponen spent his childhood and youth in Kuopio.

Receiving his gymnasium diploma from the Lyceum of Kuopio in 1959, he then studied philosophy and literature at Dartmouth College for one year.

Soon after returning to Finland he moved to Helsinki where he attained a master's degree in the study of international politics from the University of Helsinki in 1971. He was the editor of the student newspaper Ylioppilaslehti 1963–1965 and a freelance reporter for the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) 1965–1967.

He held various posts in the Social Democratic Party organization from 1967 to 1979, but he first came into the political limelight when he was secretary to the then Prime Minister Mauno Koivisto from 1979 to 1982. Frequently having to substitute for the busy PM, Lipponen was soon dubbed "vara-Manu" ("deputy Manu" — "Manu" being short for Mauno).

Lipponen was a Member of the Parliament of Finland from 1983–1987 and also from 1991 until he retired in 2007. Lipponen was elected chairman of the Finnish Social Democratic Party in 1993, and he led the party to victory in the parliamentary election of 1995. He also headed the campaigns in 1999 and 2003. Lipponen was succeeded as the party chairman by Eero Heinäluoma in 2005.

He is currently advising Nord Stream in regards to on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and permit application in Finland. He will provide independent consultations according to his expertise in Finnish administrative and decision-making procedures within the energy sector. [ [Nord Stream announcement at http://www.nord-stream.com/en/news-list/news/news-detail/article/paavo-lipponen-to-advise-nord-stream.html] ]

Paavo Lipponen is also well-known as an avid water polo player and supporter of the game.

ee also

* Bilderberg Group

*Paavo Lipponen's first Cabinet
*Paavo Lipponen's second Cabinet

References