Maria Guzenina-Richardson

Maria Guzenina-Richardson
Minister of Health and Social Services
In office 22 June 2011 –
Preceded by	Paula Risikko
Member of Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office 2007
Constituency	Uusimaa
Personal details
Born	12 January 1969 (1969-01-12) (age 42) Helsinki, Finland
Political party	Social Democratic Party of Finland
Children	Alex, born 1999
Residence	Espoo
Occupation	Journalist
Website	www.mariaguzenina.net

Maria Guzenina-Richardson (née Stieren, previously Lindell;^[1] born 12 January 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish politician who became a household name in Finland after working as a VJ for MTV Europe from 1994 until 1997. Guzenina-Richardson was elected to the Parliament of Finland in 2007 and in 2011. She was appointed Minister of Health and Social Services on 22 June 2011. Guzenina-Richardson is a high school graduate.^[2]

After MTV

Guzenina worked as a radio journalist in the now defunct Radio Aino and Yle Q, which were both AOR radio stations targeted at the thirtysomething and fortysomething crowds. On radio, she could be heard co-hosting a programme with a man about the pitfalls of relationships for couples. Guzenina wrote a book together with Seppo Pietikäinen on the subject, entitled Parisuhteen käsikirja ('A manual for relationships') and published in 2005.

Her later career has involved politics within the ranks of the Social Democratic Party of Finland (abbreviated SDP). Her political agenda centers on families, childcare and social services.

She has been elected a member of the Espoo municipal council and Member of Parliament in the spring elections of 2007.^[3] She gained 12578 votes, 10th most in the country.^[4] In June 2008 Guzenina-Richardson was elected as the second deputy chairman of the SDP. She was re-elected to the parliament in 2011 with 14581 votes and appointed Minister of Health and Social Services (the second minister position in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health) in the government of Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen.

Private life

Marriage to Briton Mark Richardson, the drummer of Skunk Anansie fame, ended in 2001 due to the spouse's alleged infidelity. Custody of their joint child was entrusted to Guzenina, who allows paternal visits.^[1]

Guzenina has given several interviews in Finland making comments about her troubled teenage in a dysfunctional family.^{[citation needed]}

Trivia

Her surname Guzenina comes from her maternal, partly Russian side.^{[citation needed]}

Before she became MTV VJ, she hosted an advertising campaign (1994–1995) about study and job prospects in Europe with an educational rather than entertaining emphasis.^{[citation needed]}

In late 2006 Guzenina asked the police to investigate Wikipedia for alleged smears on her character and misrepresentation in case a crime might have been committed against her, but the police declined to proceed with an investigation since they could find no law on the books to fit the vague allegation expressed by her.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Maria Guzenina". http://www.city.fi/artikkeli/Maria+Guzenina/2136/. Retrieved 18 January 2010.  (Finnish)
2. ^ http://www.mariaguzenina.net/mariasta.htm
3. ^ "Edustajamatrikkeli". Eduskunta. http://www.eduskunta.fi/triphome/bin/hx5000.sh?{hnro}=926&{kieli}=su&{haku}=kaikki. 
4. ^ Kaikki ehdokkaat - Ehdokkaiden äänimäärät Yleisradio. 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2011. (Finnish)

External links

• Maria Guzenina at the Internet Movie Database.

Persondata
Name	Guzenina, Maria
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	12 January 1969
Place of birth	Helsinki, Finland
Date of death
Place of death