| Annika Saarikko | |
| Office: | 36th Deputy Prime Minister of Finland |
| Term Start: | 10 September 2020 |
| Term End: | 20 June 2023 |
| Primeminister: | Sanna Marin |
| Predecessor: | Matti Vanhanen |
| Successor: | Riikka Purra |
| Office1: | Minister of Finance |
| Primeminister1: | Sanna Marin |
| Term Start1: | 27 May 2021 |
| Term End1: | 20 June 2023 |
| Predecessor1: | Matti Vanhanen |
| Successor1: | Riikka Purra |
| Office2: | Minister of Science and Culture |
| Primeminister2: | Sanna Marin |
| Term Start2: | 6 August 2020 |
| Term End2: | 27 May 2021 |
| Predecessor2: | Hanna Kosonen |
| Successor2: | Antti Kurvinen |
| Primeminister3: | Antti Rinne |
| Term Start3: | 6 June 2019 |
| Term End3: | 9 August 2019 |
| Predecessor3: | Sampo Terho |
| Successor3: | Hanna Kosonen |
| Office4: | Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services |
| Primeminister4: | Juha Sipilä |
| Term Start4: | 10 July 2017 |
| Term End4: | 6 June 2019 |
| Predecessor4: | Juha Rehula |
| Successor4: | Krista Kiuru |
| Office5: | Leader of the Centre Party |
| Term Start5: | 5 September 2020 |
| Term End5: | 15 June 2024 |
| Predecessor5: | Katri Kulmuni |
| Successor5: | Antti Kaikkonen |
| Birth Name: | Annika Virpi Irene Saarikko |
| Birth Date: | 10 November 1983 |
| Birth Place: | Oripää, Finland |
| Party: | Centre |
| Office6: | Member of Finnish Parliament for Finland Proper |
| Term Start6: | 20 April 2011 |
| Alma Mater: | University of Turku |
Annika Virpi Irene Saarikko (born 10 November 1983) is a Finnish politician and minister who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Finland from 2020 to 2023. She served as the leader of the Finnish Centre Party from 2020 to 2024.[1] [2]
Saarikko was born in Oripää, Finland. She has a bachelor's degree in educational science and a master's degree in philosophy (majoring in media studies) from the University of Turku.
On 14 June 2010, Saarikko was elected to the vice chair of the Centre Party.[3] She was elected to the Parliament of Finland in 2011 Finnish parliamentary election.
From 10 July 2017 to 6 June 2019 Saarikko served as the minister of family affairs and social services.[4] On 6 June 2019, she was appointed minister of science and culture. Saarikko took maternity leave on 9 August 2019, and the position was filled by Hanna Kosonen until Saarikko reassumed her post in August 2020.[5] She became Deputy Prime Minister of Finland, traditionally held by the leader of the second largest party in the government coalition, in September 2020. In May 2021 Saarikko became Minister of Finance.[6]
Saarikko led the Centre Party to the 2023 Finnish parliamentary election, in which the party lost 8 seats and finished fourth. Due to the election defeat, Saarikko announced that the party would not seek a place in the government.[7] In February 2024, Saarikko announced that she will not seek another term as leader at the party conference in June 2024.[8]
Saarikko has two children and is expecting a third in July 2024.[8]