Lenita Toivakka
{{Short description|Finnish politician (born 1961)}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Lenita Toivakka
| image = Lenita Toivakka-26.jpg
| caption =
| office = Minister for Foreign Trade and Development
| primeminister = Juha Sipilä
| term_start = 29 May 2015
| term_end = 22 June 2016
| predecessor = Sirpa Paatero
| successor = Kai Mykkänen
| office2 = Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade
| primeminister2 = Alexander Stubb
| term_start2 = 24 June 2014
| term_end2 = 28 May 2015
| predecessor2 = Alexander Stubb
| successor2 = Timo Soini
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|9|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Helsinki, Finland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Finnish
| party = National Coalition Party
| spouse = Jukka Toivakka
}}
Lenita Anneli Toivakka (born 28 September 1961 in Helsinki) is a Finnish politician and a member of National Coalition Party.
Political career
Toivakka is the former Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development serving in both in Alexander Stubb's cabinet and Juha Sipilä's cabinet.{{Cite web |url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/politics/10987-raety-orpo-and-toivakka-take-over-ministerial-portfolios.html |title=Räty, Orpo and Toivakka take over ministerial portfolios |work=Helsinki Times |date=23 June 2014 |accessdate=19 July 2014}} During her time in office, Finland’s government decided to slash development assistance by 43 percent in 2015.Manola De Vos (June 19, 2015), [https://www.devex.com/news/a-first-glimpse-into-finland-s-aid-cuts-86381 A first glimpse into Finland's aid cuts] Devex.Georgi Gotev (June 11, 2015), [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jun/11/finland-slashes-development-aid-cuts-43-ngos Finland slashes development aid by 43% amid fears others may follow] The Guardian. She also served as member of the World Bank Group’s (WBG) Advisory Council on Gender and Development.[http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/gender/publication/world-bank-advisory-council-on-gender-and-development World Bank Advisory Council on Gender and Development: 2015-2017 Members] World Bank Group.
On 21 June 2016, Toivakka announced that she would resign due to the tax shelter methods used by her family company and the resulting negative publicity to the party.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/a1466396023252 |title=Lenita Toivakka jättää ministerin tehtävät – "Ympärilläni käyty keskustelu ei ole ollut puolueelle hyväksi" |work=Helsingin Sanomat |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=21 June 2016}} She was followed by Kai Mykkänen.{{Cite web |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/kokoomuksen_ministerivaihdoksille_sinetti__presidentti_vahvisti_nimitykset/8977543 |title=Kokoomuksen ministerivaihdoksille sinetti – presidentti vahvisti nimitykset |publisher=Yle |date=22 June 2016 |accessdate=22 June 2016}}
Other activities
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Alexander Stubb}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade|years=2014–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=Timo Soini}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Sirpa Paatero}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Foreign Trade and Development|years=2015–2016}}
{{s-aft|after=Kai Mykkänen}}
{{s-end}}
{{Commons category|Lenita Toivakka}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toivakka, Lenita}}
Category:Politicians from Helsinki
Category:National Coalition Party politicians
Category:Government ministers of Finland
Category:Members of the Parliament of Finland (2007–2011)
Category:Members of the Parliament of Finland (2011–2015)
Category:Members of the Parliament of Finland (2015–2019)