"Glass ceilings are made to be broken," Suldaan Said Ahmed (Left Alliance) told the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) when interviewed about his impending appointment as a Finnish member of Parliament.
"I'm the first, but I'm certainly not the last," he added.
Until now Helsinki City Councilor, Suldaan Said Ahmed will become the first Finnish Member of Parliament of Somali descent. It will happen when he replaces Paavo Arhinmäki (from the same party) in the Finnish chamber.
Arhinmäki will leave the seat to become deputy mayor of Helsinki.
In principle, Arhinmäki was to be replaced by the Member of the European Parliament Silvia Modig, but she has preferred to stay in Brussels, so now the responsibility will fall to Said Ahmed.
Said Ahmed told Yle that working in the Finnish Parliament is a "great honor" for him and that he will focus his work on climate policy and promoting a more inclusive society.
