Uula Plööm

**Uuljana** "**Uula**" **Plööm** (born 27 September 1988) is an Ecklander politician and activist who has served as Minister of Children, Women, and Family Affairs since 2016. She is additionally the founder and leader of A New Movement, a minor political party dedicated to youth activism, LGBT rights, and feminism, and has served as a member of the Maagukoorpuu since 2016. She was the first openly bisexual person elected to the Maagukoorpuu, and the first openly LGBT person to serve in an Eckish cabinet.

Born in the small village of Lihupää in Härpu County, Plööm graduated from upper secondary school in 2007, and subsequently moved to Poorgu to attend the University of Poorgu. After graduating with her degree in sociology in 2010, Plööm founded the nonprofit organization A New Movement, dedicated to advocating for the advancement of women's rights and LGBT rights in Eckland and abroad. In 2011, she decided to enter politics and founded a political party named after the nonprofit. Plööm stood in the 2012 parliamentary election but the party did not win any seats. After her election loss, Plööm began becoming further involved in activism and particularly targeted members of the youth through Internet advocacy. A New Movement organized several protests and sit-ins outside of the Maagukoorpuu, demanding attention be made to education, childcare, feminism, and LGBT rights. Plööm stood for election once again in the 2016 parliamentary election, where A New Movement won five seats and Plööm was elected to parliament. The party was invited to join the governing coalition with Därdo Kuikas and the Social Democrats, and Kuikas nominated Plööm as Minister of Children, Women, and Family Affairs.

## Early life and education

Plööm was born on 27 September 1988 in Lihupää in Härpu County to parents Arno Plööm (born 1956) and Elli Jäänla (born 1958). Her father worked as a construction worker in Poorgu, while her mother was a secretary at an accounting firm. The family was working-class. Plööm is the youngest of four children; her elder siblings include Darja, born  (1981-09-13) 13 September 1981 (age 42), Ole, born  (1983-07-22) 22 July 1983 (age 40), and Küüvo, born  (1986-01-14) 14 January 1986 (age 38).

Plööm began her education in 1995, attending a local public primary school. She ultimately graduated from primary school in 2003, and enrolled in a local gymnasium. While an upper secondary school student, Plööm became politically active and participated in youth-led activism campaigns. She graduated in 2007, and then enrolled in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Poorgu, graduating with a degree in sociology in 2010. Prior to beginning her political career, Plööm worked part-time jobs as a nanny and bartender.

## Political career

### Political beginnings

After graduating from university, Plööm launched the nonprofit organization A New Movement with her then-boyfriend Ügo Nuum. The organization began to organize fundraisers and advocacy campaigns in order to promote the advancement of women's rights and LGBT rights in Eckland and abroad.

After Plööm and Nuum broke up in 2011, Nuum resigned from the organization and Plööm decided to branch out into elected politics. She founded the political party A New Movement in August 2011, and announced her intentions to lead the party into the 2012 parliamentary election. Despite attempts to reach youth and female voters, the party ultimately did not win any seats in parliament. Following the election loss, Plööm began further prioritizing political protests and demonstrations, organizing several protests and sit-ins outside of the Maagukoorpuu, demanding attention be made to education, childcare, feminism, and LGBT rights.

### Minister of Children, Women, and Family Affairs

Plööm stood for election once again in the 2016 parliamentary election. Now with more experience and name recognition, Plööm led a widely engaging and interactive youth-focused campaign. The party went on to win 5 seats and Plööm was elected to the Maagukoorpuu. Plööm was the first openly bisexual person to ever serve in the Maagukoorpuu.

After being elected to parliament, Plööm and A New Movement were brought into a governing coalition with Därdo Kuikas and the Social Democrats. As a member of the governing coalition, Plööm was nominated by Kuikas to serve as Minister of Children, Women, and Family Affairs. As a government minister, Plööm had advocated for increased paid parental leave, no-cost childcare, and spearheaded the nation's free public university tuition program.

## Personal life

Plööm is openly bisexual, having come out to her family and friends when she was 17. She resides in Sentraliin.