Pentti Arajärvi

Dr. Pentti Ilkka Olavi Arajärvi (born 2 June 1948, Helsinki) is a Finnish Doctor of Law, Professor Emeritus and Docent of the University of Helsinki, a former civil service official and a Social Democratic politician from Helsinki. Arajärvi was awarded the honorary title of valiokuntaneuvos ("Committee Counselor") for his work in parliamentary committees. He is the husband of Tarja Halonen, who was the President of Finland between 2000 and 2012. During that time, he held the unofficial title of First Gentleman of Finland. Arajärvi was elected to the Helsinki City Council in the 2012 municipal elections.

On 26 August 2000, after a relationship of more than fifteen years, Arajärvi married his longtime partner, Tarja Halonen, who was at the time the President of Finland, in a civil ceremony at her official residence, Mäntyniemi. Arajärvi has an adult son, Esko, and Halonen have an adult daughter, Anna, both of whom are from previous relationships.

He is a non-active member of a Finnish scout troop Helsingin Kotkat.

National honours

•  Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose

Foreign honours

•  Belgium: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
•  Estonia: Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
•  Estonia: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Star
•  Iceland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon
•  Latvia: Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars
•  Luxembourg: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
•  Sweden: Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star