Kaisa Juuso to Leave Parliament After 2027 Elections
Former Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso (Finns Party) has announced she will not seek re-election in the 2027 parliamentary elections. The 65-year-old, currently serving her second term as a Member of Parliament, confirmed her decision in a written statement to Yle.
Juuso cited the demanding nature of parliamentary work, particularly the escalation of debate culture and increased polarization, as key factors in her decision. "Parliamentary work is rewarding but also extremely taxing. In particular, the escalation of the discussion culture and the increased polarization have reduced my desire to continue in parliamentary work," she stated. "I feel that at this stage, it is time to consider other ways to use my expertise and time." (Yle)
Challenges as Minister and Public Backlash
Juuso served as Minister of Social Affairs and Health in Petteri Orpo’s centre-right government from 2023 until her resignation in February 2025. During her tenure, she faced significant criticism for implementing cuts to elderly care and other social and health services. In October 2025, she encountered an angry reception in her hometown of Tornio following cuts to local hospital services (Yle).
One of the most contentious issues during her time as minister was her decision to appoint her son as her parliamentary assistant. Juuso later described her ministerial role as "extremely demanding" and acknowledged the difficulty of presenting the government’s cost-saving laws to Parliament, which led to "quite negative publicity." (Yle, Ilta-Sanomat)
Absences and Return to Parliamentary Work
After resigning as minister, Juuso took sick leave, which was later extended until April. In early April, she announced she would remain absent from parliamentary duties until the end of June for personal reasons. She returned to work in July, participating in discussions on the government’s report on the Garden Helsinki project (Ilta-Sanomat).
Juuso emphasized that her decision to leave Parliament was not made lightly. "The hardest part has been especially having to present the health and social services savings laws to Parliament and receiving the resulting quite negative publicity for them," she told Yle. Despite the challenges, she highlighted the positive aspects of her work, including the opportunity to collaborate with "a vast number of different and wonderful people."
Future Plans Unclear
Juuso has not yet decided on her next steps after leaving Parliament next spring. "I will calmly see what life brings," she stated (Yle).
