Halonen, Tarja Kaarina [key], 1943–, Finnish political leader, president of Finland (2000–), b. Helsinki, grad. Univ. of Helsinki (LL.M., 1968). Halonen became an attorney with the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions in 1970 and joined the Social Democratic party in 1971, serving as parliamentary secretary from 1974 to 1975. She served in the Finnish parliament from 1979 to 2000 and was minister of social affairs and health (1987–90), minister of Nordic cooperation (1989–91), minister of justice (1990), and minister of foreign affairs (1995–2000). Halonen was elected president of Finland in 2000, becoming the country's first woman president; she won a second term in 2006.
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