Finland
European countries, adopted the euro as its currency. In 2000, Tarja Halonen,
who had been Finland's foreign minister, became its first woman president.
Since 1998, Finland has been judged to be the world's least corrupt country,
according to the annual survey by the Berlin-based organization Transparency
International. In April 2003, Finland appointed its first female prime minister,
making it the only country in Europe with both a female president and prime
minister. But Prime Minister Jaatteenmaki resigned after only two months in
office when it was revealed that she had used leaked classified information
against her rival in the election (she was acquitted of the charges the following
year). In June, Defense Minister Matti Vanhanen was selected by parliament to
replace her. In Jan. 2006, President Halonen was reelected. Vanhanen's Centre
Party narrowly won parliamentary elections in March 2007, and he was reelected
to a second term. (www.infoplease.com)
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