Finland’s Social Affairs and Health Minister Kaisa Juuso resigned on Thursday and took immediate sick leave. She announced her decision in a statement and on social media. She said the work had been heavy and that the government had faced hard choices to secure key services.
“I have submitted my resignation as minister. The work has been heavy and we have had to make difficult decisions to safeguard important services for Finns. I believe I have done my best, but now it is time for someone else to continue. I wish strength to my successor, whom I will help as best I can,” she wrote.
Juuso said she would not comment further.
The announcement came after a short-notice press briefing in Parliament called by Finance Minister and Finns Party leader Riikka Purra. She said Juuso informed her and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo earlier in the day.
“This is Minister Juuso’s own decision. I respect the work she has done for Finland. My sincere thanks to Kaisa,” Purra said.
Purra said the party would start the process of selecting a successor at once. She said she expects a decision early next week.
She said the next minister must show “courage, determination and the ability to withstand pressure from different directions”.
Purra said the resignation did not come as a full surprise.
Juuso’s departure follows weeks of pressure over spending cuts in social welfare. On Wednesday a ministry working group failed to meet a €100 million savings target set by the government. The group proposed cuts of €50 million.
Purra said the result disappointed her but noted that the mandate rested with the working group. She did not criticise Juuso over the outcome.
The Social Affairs and Health Ministry has faced criticism within government over delays in preparing savings lists. Officials have struggled to identify reductions in services without breaching statutory obligations.
Juuso, 65, is a second-term MP from Lapland. She entered Parliament after serving as a councillor in Tornio. Before politics she worked in the insurance sector and as a carer for her mother for 15 years. She has said the pace of work in elderly care led her into politics.
She became minister in 2023. She had no prior ministerial experience. She said at the time that her appointment came with one day’s notice.
Her term included protests in Lapland over hospital network reductions. Demonstrators travelled to Helsinki last November to oppose service cuts in her home region.
In 2024 she faced criticism after stating that planned cuts in the social and health sector had come as a surprise to her. Opposition parties questioned her oversight of the portfolio.
In autumn 2025 she appointed her adult son as a parliamentary assistant. The move drew criticism from political opponents.
She also drew backlash after describing citizens as ungrateful during debate on hospital closures in her constituency.
Juuso took a lengthy sick leave last spring.
Finns Party parliamentary group chair Jani Mäkelä said the group supports Juuso. He said the change of minister may prove easier now that major reforms have already passed.
“In my view she handled her duties well,” Mäkelä said.
He accused the opposition of sustained attacks.
“The opposition’s criticism has at times been inappropriate and has gone very close to workplace bullying. Constant barking about these matters does begin to weigh,” he said.
HT