Information AboutPaavo Lipponen |
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Paavo Tapio Lipponen (b. April 23 , 1941 ), is the current Speaker of the Parliament Of Finland . He was the Chairman of the Finnish Social Democratic Party from 1993 to 2005 and the Prime Minister Of Finland from 1995 to 2003 . 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 since 1991 . Lipponen was elected chairman of the Finnish Social Democratic Party in 1993 , and he led the party to victories in the Parliamentary Elections of 1995 and 1999 . Lipponen was succeeded as the party chairman by Eero Heinäluoma in 2005 . Now Lipponen is the Speaker Of Parliament . SEE ALSO |