Kyösti Virrankoski

Kyösti Tapio Virrankoski (4 April 1944 – 21 May 2026) was a Finnish politician. He was member of the Finnish parliament and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) with the Centre Party of Finland, part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and sat on the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and its Committee on Budgetary Control and the Committee on Budgets.

Life and career Virrankoski was born in Kauhava, Finland on 4 April 1944. His parents were Väinö Antti Virrankoski (1906–69) and Impi Irja Ireene Virrankoski (Kleemola) (1906–92). He was the last of five children. His oldest brother, Antti Aimo Kullervo Virrankoski (1927–1992) was the municipal chairman of Lapua.

In 1972, he received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Helsinki University.

Virrankoski was married and had three children. He died in Kauhava on 21 May 2026, at the age of 82.

Positions held 1968–1974: Teacher of mathematics and natural sciences 1987–1991 and 1995–1996: lecturer in mathematics (1974–1983) political secretary to the Defence Minister 1973–2000: Member of the Kauhava municipal and subsequently town council 1977–1989: Member of the Kauhava municipal and subsequently town executive 1990–1999: Chairman of the Kauhava town council 1993–2000: Chairman of the Southern Bothnia Regional Council 1991–1995: Member of Parliament 1994–1995: Member of Finland's delegation to the Nordic Council 1996–2009: Member of the European Parliament posts held at the European Parliament 2004–2009: Member of the Temporary Committee on Policy Challenges and Budgetary Means of the Enlarged Union 1996–1999: Member of the Delegation for Relations with the Mashreq countries 1999–2001: Member of the Delegation for Relations with Estonia 2001–2004: Member of the Delegation for Relations with Romania