Lusi Manõla

**Lusi Manõla** (born 22 June 1948) is an Ecklander politician who has served as All-Eckland Party leader since 2012. A long-serving stateswoman, Manõla has served as Minister of Economic Affairs since 2016, and was Minister of Education from 2004 to 2012. She has been a member of the Maagukoorpuu since 1996.

Born to a wealthy family in Poorgu, Manõla finished her upper secondary education in 1966. After graduating from school, she enrolled in the University of Poorgu and graduated with a degree in art history in 1969. After finishing her education, Manõla began working at a local art gallery in Poorgu, where she served as a gallery associate. In 1980, Manõla opened her own gallery, where she served as the gallery's managing director. At this time, Manõla also worked part-time at Poorgu Museum of Art, where she was an art educator, hosting guided tours and workshops for students. Manõla sold her gallery in 1989, becoming a stay-at-home mother and homemaker. Manõla began her political career in 1996, after being elected to the Maagukoorpuu in the 1996 parliamentary election with the All-Eckland Party.

When Viktor Hoone became Prime Minister following the 2004 parliamentary election, Manõla was appointed Minister of Education. Manõla became a devoted supporter of Hoone during her tenure as Education minister, serving in the position for eight years from 2004 to 2012. After Hoone lost the 2012 parliamentary election, Manõla lost her position in the cabinet. Following this loss, Hoone also resigned as All-Eckland Party leader and a leadership contest was announced. Manõla was one of two former cabinet members to declare their candidacies, the other being Hülm Natsalööka, and went on to win the election in a landslide. With this win, Manõla became the first woman to lead the All-Eckland Party. Taking part in the 2016 parliamentary election as party leader, Manõla saw a slight gain in seats for the party, and negotiated the All-Eckland Party into a coalition government under the leadership of Därdo Kuikas. Kuikas then had Manõla appointed as Minister of Economic Affairs, becoming the first woman to ever serve in this position.

## Early life and education

Manõla was born on 22 June 1948 in Poorgu to parents Eervi Manõla (1921–1987) and Kjersti Pallulin (1922–2008). Her father was the number-one ranked urologist in Eckland for most of his career, while her mother owned her own interior decorating company. The family was wealthy, and Manõla grew up in a six-bedroom home in the Võsalu neighborhood of Palriita in Poorgu, just a short walk from the Presidential Palace. She is the middle child of three and only daughter; her brothers include Aalpo, born  (1947-01-30) 30 January 1947 (age 76), and Lõõk, born  (1950-02-13) 13 February 1950 (age 73).

Manõla began her education in 1954, attending a local public primary school in Võsalu. While in primary school, Manõla discovered a love for art during a school field trip to the Poorgu Museum of Art. She graduated from primary school in 1962, and enrolled in a local gymnasium at her parents' demands, despite wishing to apply for the Poorgu Academy of Art and Design. She graduated from upper secondary school in 1966, and afterwards enrolled in the Faculty of Art History at the University of Poorgu, where she graduated with a degree in art history in 1969.

## Personal life

Manõla began a relationship with Ecklander urologist Jarvo Ooni in 1969. Ooni was a protégé of Manõla's father who was apprenticing at his practice when they first met. Initially, Manõla's father was opposed to the relationship, but ultimately approved following a family dinner including Ooni.

Manõla and Ooni became engaged in 1971, and later married the following year. They have four children together: Niit, born  (1975-04-08) 8 April 1975 (age 48), Luukas, born  (1977-08-12) 12 August 1977 (age 46), and fraternal twins Giina and Gerlu, born  (1989-03-14) 14 March 1989 (age 34). The family resides in the Tüduu neighborhood of Palriita in Poorgu.