Finnish politician Wille Rydman is set to assume the post of Minister of Social Affairs and Health, following the abrupt resignation of Kaisa Juuso on 12 February 2026.
The Finns Party’s board and parliamentary group unanimously chose Rydman as the party’s candidate for the new Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Finnish-language media reported.
In Finland, the President officially appoints the ministers.
Kaisa Juuso, who held the portfolio in Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s right-wing coalition government, announced she would be stepping down to take medical leave, leaving one of Finland’s most demanding and politically sensitive ministerial seats vacant.
The chair of the Finns Party, Riikka Purra, justified Rydman’s selection based on his experience in government work.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health oversees Finland’s vast welfare state, including healthcare, social security, and pension policy, making it one of the most consequential cabinet positions in the country.
The appointment comes at a particularly challenging time, as Finland continues to grapple with pressures on public finances, an ageing population, and ongoing reforms to its healthcare infrastructure.
Rydman had left the Kokoomus party amid controversy involving allegations of inappropriate conduct.
Wille Rydman: A Contentious Figure
Rydman, a Member of Parliament representing the Helsinki constituency, born on 2 January 1986, is a well-known and polarising figure in Finnish politics.
Originally a member of the centre-right National Coalition Party (Kokoomus), he later moved to the nationalist Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset), the party from which Juuso herself hailed, following a period of controversy that had shadowed his political career.
Rydman had left the Kokoomus party amid controversy involving allegations of inappropriate conduct.
Rydman’s ascension to the ministerial post is unlikely to pass without scrutiny. His political journey, from Kokoomus to Perussuomalaiset, and the circumstances surrounding his earlier career have made him a figure who attracts both fierce loyalty among supporters and sharp criticism from opponents.
Critics are expected to question whether he is the right fit to lead a ministry tasked with the wellbeing of Finland’s most vulnerable citizens.
Supporters, however, argue that Rydman brings parliamentary experience, a sharp political intellect, and a firm ideological commitment aligned with the government’s agenda of fiscal discipline and welfare reform.
The appointment is understood to maintain continuity within the governing coalition, with the Finns Party retaining its hold on the Social and Health Ministry—a seat of significant influence it has used to push for tightening social benefit eligibility and curbing immigration-related welfare costs.
Prime Minister Orpo’s coalition, which pairs Kokoomus with the Finns Party and other partners, has so far held together despite internal tensions, and the swift move to replace Juuso signals a determination to keep the government on a stable footing.
Rydman’s immediate priorities will likely include managing the politically fraught wellbeing services county reform, continuing negotiations on social security cuts tied to Finland’s fiscal consolidation programme, and steering a healthcare system under significant workforce strain.
All eyes will be on how, and how swiftly, he stamps his authority on the ministry, and whether his appointment injects fresh turbulence or renewed energy into one of Finland’s most watched government portfolios.
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