Mauri Pekkarinen


Reijo Mauri Matias Pekkarinen is a Finnish politician. He is the Centre Party of Finland deputy and secretary, and former Minister of Economic Affairs in the Finnish government. He is known by the nickname "The Parliament Terrier".

Early life

Pekkarinen first became interested in politics as a student at the University of Jyväskylä in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He had long held an interest in economics and society and began to take part in party politics at the age of 24.

Minister of Trade and Industry

As new Minister of Trade and Industry, Pekkarinen stated his goal to "promote entrepreneurship and economic growth and thus contribute to diminishing unemployment, to tackle large issues in the field of energy policy such as the carbon dioxide emissions trade between companies in the EU and the building a new nuclear power reactor in Finland", and has also stated an interest in preserving good relations with France. In 2008 his title was changed to Minister of Economic Affairs.
In addition to politics, Pekkarinen is an avid athlete, and is a noted long distance runner.

Taxes

Mauri Pekkarinen suggested higher food VAT to collect more taxes in January 2014. Reduction of the food VAT was an election theme in 2007 Finnish parliamentary election. Half of the promised food VAT reduction after the elections was implemented as a reduction of VAT on food served in restaurants. Pekkarinen's suggestion of 2014 did not include a cancellation of the reduced restaurant VAT.