Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (IPA: [urho kaleʋa kekːonen] (help· info)) (September 3, 1900 Pielavesi – August 31, 1986 Helsinki) was a Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland (1950–1953, 1954–1956) and later as President of Finland (1956–1981). Kekkonen continued the "active neutrality" policy of President Juho Kusti Paasikivi, which came to be known as the Paasikivi-Kekkonen Line. This policy allowed Finland to retain independence and trade with both the nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Warsaw Pact. Kekkonen was the longest-serving President of Finland. Image File history File links Kekkonen_1953. ... The President of Finland is the Head of State of Finland. ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... -1... Juho Kusti Paasikivi (November 27, 1870 – December 14, 1956) was President of Finland from 1946 to 1956. ... Dr. Mauno Henrik Koivisto [IPA: mÉ‘uno henrik koiÊ‹isto] (born November 25, 1923) was the President of Finland from 1982 to 1994. ... The Prime Minister (Finnish Pääministeri, Swedish: Statsminister) is the head of government in Finland. ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ralf Johan Gustaf Törngren, (born 1 March 1899 in Oulu, dead 16 May 1961 in Turku), was a Finnish politician. ... Karl-August Fagerholm (born 31 December 1901, dead 22 May 1984) was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland (1948–50, 1956–57, 1958–59). ... The Prime Minister (Finnish Pääministeri, Swedish: Statsminister) is the head of government in Finland. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Karl-August Fagerholm (born 31 December 1901, dead 22 May 1984) was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland (1948–50, 1956–57, 1958–59). ... Sakari Tuomioja in 1956 Sakari Severi Tuomioja (August 29, 1911, Tampere — September 9, 1964, Helsinki) was a Finnish politician, diplomat, Prime Minister of Finland during the caretaker government which was formed in 1953. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... Pielavesi is a municipality of Finland. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location of Helsinki in Northern Europe Coordinates: Country Finland Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Charter 1550 Capital city 1812 Government  - Lord Mayor Jussi Pajunen  - Mayor Pekka Korpinen  - Mayor Ilkka-Christian Björklund  - Mayor Pekka Sauri  - Mayor Paula Kokkonen Area  - City 187. ... The Centre Party (in Finnish: Suomen Keskusta, ) is a centrist political party in Finland. ... IPA may refer to: The International Phonetic Alphabet or India Pale Ale ... Image File history File links Fi-Urho_Kekkonen. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... Pielavesi is a municipality of Finland. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location of Helsinki in Northern Europe Coordinates: Country Finland Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Charter 1550 Capital city 1812 Government  - Lord Mayor Jussi Pajunen  - Mayor Pekka Korpinen  - Mayor Ilkka-Christian Björklund  - Mayor Pekka Sauri  - Mayor Paula Kokkonen Area  - City 187. ... Finland has a primarily parliamentary system, although the president also has some notable powers. ... The Prime Minister (Finnish Pääministeri, Swedish: Statsminister) is the head of government in Finland. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The President of Finland is the Head of State of Finland. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Juho Kusti Paasikivi (November 27, 1870 – December 14, 1956) was President of Finland from 1946 to 1956. ... The Paasikivi-Kekkonen line is president Urho Kekkonens (1956-1981) realization and development of his predecessors Paasikivi doctrine, aimed at Finlands survival as an independent sovereign democratic and capitalist country in the immediate proximity of the Soviet Union. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ... Unofficial Seal of the Warsaw Pact Distinguish from the Warsaw Convention, which is an agreement about airlines financial liability and the Treaty of Warsaw (1970) between West Germany and the Peoples Republic of Poland. ...

Early life

Kekkonen was born in Pielavesi in the Savo region of Finland, the son of Juho Kekkonen and Emilia Pylvänäinen, but spent his childhood in Kainuu. His family were farmers (though not poor tenant farmers, as some of his supporters claimed). His father, originally a farm-hand and forestry worker, eventually became a forestry manager and stock agent at Halla Ltd. It was claimed that Kekkonen's family had lived in a poor farmhouse without a chimney; however, it was later found out that the photographic evidence to back up this claim was fake, and that the chimney had simply been retouched off the photographs depicting Kekkonen's childhood home. His school years did not go smoothly. During the Finnish Civil War, he fought for the White Guard and led a firing squad in Hamina. Kekkonen personally admitted to having killed a man in battle, but not to a mass execution of Red troops committed by his squad. However, a photograph taken at the time seems to prove that Kekkonen was there during the execution. Pielavesi is a municipality of Finland. ... Savonia, Savolax or Savo, is a historical province in the south of Finland. ... Kainuu (Swedish: Kajanaland) is a region (maakunta / landskap) of Finland. ... For other uses, see Farmer (disambiguation). ... A tenant farmer is one who resides on and farms land owned by a landlord. ... Look up Chimney in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into photo manipulation. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Whites: White Guards, German Empire, Swedish volunteers Reds: Red Guards, Russian SFSR Commanders C.G.E. Mannerheim Ali Aaltonen, Eero Haapalainen, Eino Rahja, Kullervo Manner Strength 80,000–90,000 Finns, 550 Swedish volunteers, 13,000 Germans[1] 80,000–90,000 Finns, 4,000–10,000 Russians[1... The White Guards is one translation of the Finnish term Suojeluskunta (plural: Suojeluskunnat, Finland-Swedish: Skyddskår) that unfortunately has received many different translations to English, for instance: Security Guard, Civil Guard, National Guard, White Militia, Defence Corps, Protection Guard, Protection Corps and Protection Militia. ... Execution by firing squad is a method of capital punishment, especially in times of war. ... Hamina, or Fredrikshamn in Swedish, is one of Finlands most important harbors. ...

In independent Finland, Kekkonen first worked as a journalist in Kajaani. He moved to Helsinki in 1921 to study law, graduating as a Master of Laws in 1926. During his studies he worked as a policeman from 1921 to 1927. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Sylvi Salome Uino (1900-1974), a typist at the police office. They had two sons, Matti (born 1928) and Taneli (1928-1985). Matti Kekkonen served as a Centre Party member of Parliament from 1958 to 1969. This does not cite any references or sources. ... Kajaani or Kajana in Swedish is a town in Finland. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Master of Laws is an advanced law degree, commonly abbreviated LL.M. (also LLM or LL.M) from its Latin name, Legum Magister. ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ...

In 1927, Kekkonen became a lawyer and worked for the Association of Rural Municipalities. However, he had to resign in 1932 due to abrasive comments. Kekkonen became a Doctor of Laws in 1936. At Helsinki University he was active in the Northern Ostrobothnian student nation and was the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper Ylioppilaslehti 1927-1928. He was also an active athlete. His best achievement as a sportsman was to become Finnish high jump champion (1.85 m) in 1924. The standing jump was his best discipline. Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... English barrister 16th century painting of a civil law notary, by Flemish painter Quentin Massys. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... Doctor of Laws (Latin: Legum Doctor, LL.D) is a doctorate-level academic degree in law. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Northern Ostrobothnia is a region (maakunta / landskap) of Finland. ... A student nation is a society of students at universities in Sweden, mainly the two oldest Uppsala University and Lund University. ... The Editor in chief is a publications primary editor. ... Ylioppilaslehti is a Finnish student newspaper founded in 1913. ... Year 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... Look up Athlete in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Gold medal winner Ethel Catherwood of Canada scissors over the bar at the 1928 Summer Olympics. ...

Early political career

Politically, he was a nationalist and his ideological roots lay in the nationalistic student politics of the newly independent Finland and the radicalism of the right. In 1933, Kekkonen joined the Agrarian League (later renamed the Centre Party). That year he also became a civil servant at the Ministry of Agriculture and made his first attempt to get elected to Parliament. This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Eduskunta (in Finnish), or the Riksdag (in Swedish), is the Parliament of Finland. ...

His second try to get elected into Parliament succeeded in 1936 and he became Justice Minister, serving from 1936 to 1937, where he committed a procedure that was known as the "Tricks of Kekkonen" (Kekkosen konstit) when he tried to ban the right-wing extremist Patriotic Peoples' Movement (Isänmaallinen Kansanliike, IKL). The procedure was not entirely legal and was halted by the Supreme Court. He was also Interior Minister from 1937 to 1939. 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Incomplete List of Ministers of Justice Category: ‪Politics of Finland‬ ... The Supreme Court of Finland (in Finnish: korkein oikeus, in Swedish: högsta domstolen), located in Helsinki, consists of a President and 18 other Justices, usually working in five-judge panels. ... The Interior Minister is a member of a Cabinet in a Government. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ...

He was not a member of the cabinets during the Winter War or the Continuation War. He opposed the Moscow peace treaty in Parliament in March 1940 (being the sole member to vote against the treaty) and during the Continuation War, he served as the director of the Karelian Evacuees' Welfare Centre from 1940 to 1943 and as the Ministry of Finance's commissioner for coordination from 1943 to 1945, his task being to rationalise public administration. By that time, he had become one of the leading politicians within the so-called Peace opposition. In 1944, he again became Minister of Justice, serving until 1946, and had to deal with the war-responsibility trials. Kekkonen was a Deputy Speaker of Parliament 1946-1947, and was Speaker from 1948 to 1950. Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Kliment Voroshilov, later Semyon Timoshenko Strength 250,000 men 30 tanks 130 aircraft[1][2] 1,000,000 men 3,000 tanks 3,800 aircraft[3][4] Casualties 26,662 dead 39,886 wounded 1,000 captured[5] 126,875 dead... Combatants  Finland Germany  Soviet Union Commanders C.G.E. Mannerheim Kirill Meretskov Leonid Govorov Strength 530,000 Finns[1] 220,000 Germans 900,000-1,500,000[2] Casualties 58,715 dead or missing 158,000 wounded 1,500 civilian dead[3] 200,000 dead or missing 385,000 wounded... Areas ceded by Finland to the Soviet Union The Moscow Peace Treaty was signed by Finland and the Soviet Union on March 12, 1940. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Combatants  Finland Germany  Soviet Union Commanders C.G.E. Mannerheim Kirill Meretskov Leonid Govorov Strength 530,000 Finns[1] 220,000 Germans 900,000-1,500,000[2] Casualties 58,715 dead or missing 158,000 wounded 1,500 civilian dead[3] 200,000 dead or missing 385,000 wounded... Map showing the parts Karelia is traditionally divided into. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Peace opposition (Rauhanoppositio) is a term used to describe a Finnish cross-party movement (in 1944) uniting both bourgeois politicians like Paasikivi, Kekkonen, Sakari Tuomioja etc. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The war-responsibility trials were a series of trials where anyone that had something to do with the continuation or starting of the war in Finland during the Continuation war were prosecuted and forced to resign. ... The Speaker of the Parliament of Finland (Finnish Eduskunnan puhemies, Swedish Riksdagens talman), along with two Deputy Speakers, is elected by Parliament during the first plenary session each year. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the 1950 Presidential election, Kekkonen was chosen as the candidate of the Agrarian Party and conducted a vigorous campaign against the incumbent President Juho Kusti Paasikivi. Kekkonen finished third in the third and final ballot, receiving 62 votes in the electoral college, while Paasikivi was reelected with 171. After the election Paasikivi appointed Kekkonen as Prime Minister. In all his four cabinets he emphasized his role to create and maintain friendly relations with the Soviet Union. He was authoritarian and embarrassed his opponents in public. He was ousted in 1953, although he returned as Prime Minister from 1954 to 1956. Kekkonen also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs for periods in 1952-1953 and 1954 whilst he was Prime Minister. Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Juho Kusti Paasikivi (November 27, 1870 – December 14, 1956) was President of Finland from 1946 to 1956. ... An electoral college is a set of electors, who are empowered as a deliberative body to elect a candidate to a particular office. ... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... List of Ministers of Foreign Affairs 1918 Otto Stenroth 1918 - 1919 Carl Enckell 1919 - 1922 Eino Holsti 1922 Carl Enckell 1922 - 1924 Juho Heikki Vennola 1924 Carl Enckell 1924 - 1925 Johann Procopé 1925 Karl Idman 1925 - 1926 Emil Nestor Setälä 1926 - 1927 Kaarle Väinö Voionmaa 1927 - 1931 Johan...

President of Finland

In the presidential election of 1956, Kekkonen defeated the Social Democrat Karl-August Fagerholm by two votes in the electoral college (151-149) and was elected as President. As president, Kekkonen continued the neutrality policy of President Paasikivi, which came to be known as the Paasikivi-Kekkonen line. From the beginning he ruled with the assumption that the Soviet Union accepted only him; the country at the time was some times called Kekkoslovakia. Because of defectors like Oleg Gordievsky and the opening of the Soviet archives it is known that keeping Kekkonen in power was the main task of Soviet Union in its relations with Finland. Karl-August Fagerholm (born 31 December 1901, dead 22 May 1984) was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland (1948–50, 1956–57, 1958–59). ... Juho Kusti Paasikivi (November 27, 1870 – December 14, 1956) was President of Finland from 1946 to 1956. ... The Paasikivi-Kekkonen line is president Urho Kekkonens (1956-1981) realization and development of his predecessors Paasikivi doctrine, aimed at Finlands survival as an independent sovereign democratic and capitalist country in the immediate proximity of the Soviet Union. ... Oleg Antonovich Gordievsky (born 10 October 1938 in Moscow, Russia), was a Colonel of the KGB and KGB Resident-designate (rezidentura) and bureau chief in London, who defected to the United Kingdom. ...

Kekkonen's policies, especially towards the USSR, were criticised within his own party by Veikko Vennamo, who broke off his Centre Party affiliation when Urho Kekkonen was elected president of Finland (1956). In 1959, Vennamo established his populist Agrarian Party, forerunner of nationalist True Finns. Veikko Vennamo was a Finnish politician. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... True Finns (Perussuomalaiset in Finnish or Sannfinländarna in Swedish) is a small party in Finland, founded in 1995 on the ruins of The Finnish Rural Party. ...

In April 1961 Kekkonen was already planning to dissolve parliament in order to influence the alliance behind his potential presidential rival Olavi Honka. In addition, the Soviet Union sent a diplomatic note in late October, citing an article of the FCMA treaty referring to the threat of war. Concerning this 'note crisis', the most common view is that the Soviet Union was motivated by a desire to ensure Kekkonen's re-election. After Honka dropped his candidacy, Kekkonen was re-elected by an overwhelming vote of 199 out of 300 electoral college votes in the 1962 Presidential election. In addition to his own party, Kekkonen had received the backing of the Swedish People's Party and the Finnish People's Party. As a result of the note crisis, genuine opposition to Kekkonen disappeared, and he acquired an especially strong - later even autocratic - status as the political leader of Finland. 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, also known as the YYA Treaty from the Finnish Ystävyys-, yhteistyö- ja avunantosopimus (YYA-sopimus) (Swedish: Vänskaps-, samarbets- och biståndsavtalet (VSB-avtalet)), was the basis for Finno–Soviet relations from 1948 to 1992. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... The Swedish Peoples Party (Swedish: ; Finnish: ) is a Swedish speaking minority and mainly liberal party in Finland. ...

Throughout his time as president, Kekkonen did his best to keep political rivals in check. The Centre Party's rival, National Coalition Party was kept in opposition despite good performance in elections. On a few occasions, the parliament was dissolved as the political composition did not please Kekkonen. Too prominent Centre Party members often found themselves sidelined, as Kekkonen negotiated directly with the lower lever. The "Mill Letters" of Kekkonen were a continuous stream of directives to high officials, politicians, journalists etc. The National Coalition Party (Kansallinen Kokoomus or Samlingspartiet) is a political party in Finland. ...

Kekkonen and Leonid Brezhnev 1961

In the 1960s Kekkonen was responsible for a number of foreign-policy initiatives, involving for example the Nordic nuclear-free zone, the border agreement with Norway and a Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1969. The purpose of these initiatives was to avoid the enforcement of the military articles in the FCMA treaty - in other words, military cooperation between Finland and the Soviet Union - and thus to strengthen Finland's attempt to practice a policy of neutrality. Following the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 pressure for neutrality increased. Kekkonen informed the Soviets in 1970 that he would not continue as president, nor would the FCMA treaty be extended, if the Soviet Union was no longer prepared to recognize Finland's neutrality. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev Russian: ; January 1, 1907 [O.S. December 19, 1906] – November 10, 1982) was the effective ruler of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, at first in partnership with others. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Political map of the Nordic countries and associated territories. ... A nuclear-free zone is an area where nuclear weapons and/or nuclear power are banned. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1968 Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Kekkonen was re-elected for a third term in 1968. In that years election, he received the support of five political parties - the Centre Party, the Social Democrats, the Finnish People's Democratic League, the Workers' and Smallholders Social Democratic League, and the Swedish People's Party. Kekkonen received 201 votes in the electoral college, with the National Coalition party's candidate finishing in second place with 66 votes. Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1968 Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1973, he was re-elected by emergency law which saw his presidency extended by four years. The elimination of any significant opposition and competition meant de facto political autocracy for Kekkonen. The year 1975 can be regarded as marking the zenith of his power, when he dissolved parliament and hosted the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) in Helsinki with the assistance of a caretaker government. In the 1978 Presidential election, Kekkonen's candidacy was supported by nine political parties, including the Social Democratic, Centre and National Coalition parties, effectively meaning that there were no serious rivals left. Kekkonen won 259 out of the 300 electoral college votes, with his nearest rival, Raino Westerholm of the Christian Union. receiving 24. 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Logo of the OSCE in the English language. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1979 Urho Kekkonen was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize. The International Stalin Prize or the International Stalin Prize for Strengthening Peace Among Peoples (renamed Russian: , the International Lenin Prize for Strengthening Peace Among Peoples as a result of destalinization) was the Soviet Unions equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize. ...

Later life

From December 1980, Kekkonen begun to suffer from an undisclosed disease that seemed to affect his brain functions, sometimes leading to delusional thoughts. According to one of his biographers, Juhani Suomi, Kekkonen did not give any thought about resigning until his physical condition began to deteriorate from July 1981. The 80 year old President then began to seriously consider resigning, most likely in early 1982. Prime Minister Mauno Koivisto had already defied Kekkonen during 1981. In April, Koivisto had done what none other had dared during Kekkonen's presidency, namely stated that under the Constitution, the Prime Minister and cabinet are responsible to the Parliament and not to the President, and refused to resign at Kekkonen's request. This was generally seen as the death knell of the Kekkonen era. Kekkonen took ill in August during a fishing trip to Iceland. He went on medical leave on September 10, before finally resigning due to ill health on October 26, 1981, aged 81. There is no report available for the public about his illness, but it is commonly said that he suffered from vascular dementia probably due to atherosclerosis. Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Italic text // ahh addiing sum spiice iin hurr`` For other uses, see Brain (disambiguation). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... -1... Dr. Mauno Henrik Koivisto [IPA: mɑuno henrik koiʋisto] (born November 25, 1923) was the President of Finland from 1982 to 1994. ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the Gregorian calendar (254th in leap years). ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...

Kekkonen died at Tamminiemi in 1986 at age 85 and was buried with full honors. His heirs restricted access to his diaries. An "authorized" biography was commissioned from Juhani Suomi, who subsequently defended the interpretation of history therein and denigrated most other interpretations. Tamminiemi (Villa Ekudden in Swedish), is a villa located in the Meilahti district of Helsinki. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... == c programming[[a--203. ...

Appraisal

Kekkonen's grave in Helsinki

Some of Kekkonen's actions are controversial in modern Finland. He often pulled a "Moscow card" when his authority was threatened. Still he was hardly the only Finnish politician with close relations to Soviet representatives. The mildly authoritarian behavior of Kekkonen during his presidential term is one of the main reasons for the reforms of the Finnish Constitution in 1984-2003. In these reforms, the power of Parliament and Prime Minister was increased at the expense of the President. Several of these changes have been initiated by Kekkonen's successors. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 900 pixel, file size: 761 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Urho Kekkonens grave in Helsinkis Hietaniemi cemetery. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 900 pixel, file size: 761 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Urho Kekkonens grave in Helsinkis Hietaniemi cemetery. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• The terms of a President were limited to two
• The President's role in cabinet building was restricted
• The President is elected directly, not by an electoral college
• The President may no longer dissolve the Parliament without the support of the Prime Minister
• The Prime minister's role in shaping Finland's foreign policy was enhanced

An electoral college is a set of electors, who are empowered as a deliberative body to elect a candidate to a particular office. ... Finland’s basic foreign policy goal, from the end of the Continuation War with the U.S.S.R. in 1944 until 1991, was to avoid great-power conflicts and to build mutual confidence with the Soviet Union. ...

Tributes

• The Urho Kekkonen National Park, Finland's second largest national park, is named after Kekkonen.

• The Urho Kekkonen museum was opened in Tamminiemi in 1987.

• Such was his impact on the Finnish political scene that Kekkonen's face was on the 500 Markka banknote during his term as President. The series of Finnish Markka banknotes used at this time was the second-to-last design series in the entire history of the currency. Very few Finns have ever got their face on a Markka note while still alive, and Kekkonen was the last one to do so.

Urho Kekkonen National Park (Urho Kekkosen kansallispuisto) is a national park in Lapland Province, Finland. ... Tamminiemi (Villa Ekudden in Swedish), is a villa located in the Meilahti district of Helsinki. ... The markka or mark was the currency used in Finland from 1861 until January 1, 1999, when it was replaced by the euro (€). The currency code used for the markka was FIM, and the usual familiar notation was a postfix mk. ... A £20 Bank of England banknote. ...

In popular culture

In The Lord of the Rings Online, the leader of the Earth-kin tribe located in the Lone Lands is named "Kekkonen". The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (LotRO) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) set in J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth during the time of The Lord of the Rings. ...

References

Presidents of Finland
Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg • Lauri Kristian Relander • Pehr Evind Svinhufvud • Kyösti Kallio • Risto Ryti • Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim • Juho Kusti Paasikivi • Urho Kekkonen • Mauno Koivisto • Martti Ahtisaari • Tarja Halonen

Prime Ministers of Finland

P.E. Svinhufvud • J.K. Paasikivi • L. Ingman • K. Castrén • J. Vennola • R. Erich • J. Vennola • A. Cajander • K. Kallio • A. Cajander • L. Ingman • A. Tulenheimo • K. Kallio • V. Tanner • J. Sunila • O. Mantere • K. Kallio • P.E. Svinhufvud • J. Sunila • T. Kivimäki • K. Kallio • A. Cajander • R. Ryti • J.W. Rangell • E. Linkomies • A. Hackzell • U. Castrén • J.K. Paasikivi • M. Pekkala • K.A. Fagerholm • U. Kekkonen • S. Tuomioja • R. Törngren • U. Kekkonen • K.A. Fagerholm • V. J. Sukselainen • R. von Fieandt • R. Kuuskoski • K.A. Fagerholm • V. J. Sukselainen • M. Miettunen • A. Karjalainen • R.R. Lehto • J. Virolainen • R. Paasio • M. Koivisto • T. Aura • A. Karjalainen • T. Aura • R. Paasio • K. Sorsa • K. Liinamaa • M. Miettunen • K. Sorsa • M. Koivisto • K. Sorsa • H. Holkeri • E. Aho • P. Lipponen • A. Jäätteenmäki • M. Vanhanen

Karl-August Fagerholm (born 31 December 1901, dead 22 May 1984) was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland (1948–50, 1956–57, 1958–59). ... The Prime Minister (Finnish Pääministeri, Swedish: Statsminister) is the head of government in Finland. ... Sakari Tuomioja in 1956 Sakari Severi Tuomioja (August 29, 1911, Tampere — September 9, 1964, Helsinki) was a Finnish politician, diplomat, Prime Minister of Finland during the caretaker government which was formed in 1953. ... Ralf Johan Gustaf Törngren, (born 1 March 1899 in Oulu, dead 16 May 1961 in Turku), was a Finnish politician. ... The Prime Minister (Finnish Pääministeri, Swedish: Statsminister) is the head of government in Finland. ... Karl-August Fagerholm (born 31 December 1901, dead 22 May 1984) was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland (1948–50, 1956–57, 1958–59). ... Juho Kusti Paasikivi (November 27, 1870 – December 14, 1956) was President of Finland from 1946 to 1956. ... The President of Finland is the Head of State of Finland. ... Dr. Mauno Henrik Koivisto [IPA: mÉ‘uno henrik koiÊ‹isto] (born November 25, 1923) was the President of Finland from 1982 to 1994. ... The President of Finland is the Head of State of Finland. ... Image File history File links Presidential_Standard_of_Finland. ... Kaarlo Juho StÃ¥hlberg (January 28, 1865 - September 22, 1952) was the first President of Finland (1919-1925) and a Nationalist Liberal. ... Lauri Kristian Relander (May 31, 1883 – February 9, 1942) was the President of Finland from 1925 to 1931. ... Pehr Evind Svinhufvud af Qvalstad (December 15, 1861 – February 29, 1944) was the President of Finland from 1931 to 1937. ... Statue of K. Kallio in Helsinki Kyösti Kallio (April 10, 1873 – December 19, 1940) was the fourth President of Finland (1937-1940), having already served no fewer than four times as the countrys Prime Minister. ... Risto Heikki Ryti (February 3, 1889 - October 25, 1956) was the president of Finland from 1940 to 1944. ... This article is about the Finnish statesman and Commander-in-Chief. ... Juho Kusti Paasikivi (November 27, 1870 – December 14, 1956) was President of Finland from 1946 to 1956. ... Dr. Mauno Henrik Koivisto [IPA: mÉ‘uno henrik koiÊ‹isto] (born November 25, 1923) was the President of Finland from 1982 to 1994. ... Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (IPA: ) (born June 23, 1937) is a former President of Finland (1994–2000) and a UN diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work. ... Tarja Kaarina Halonen (IPA: ) (born December 24, 1943, in Helsinki, Finland) is the President of Finland. ... The Prime Minister (Finnish Pääministeri, Swedish: Statsminister) is the head of government in Finland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland. ... Pehr Evind Svinhufvud af Qvalstad (December 15, 1861 – February 29, 1944) was the President of Finland from 1931 to 1937. ... Juho Kusti Paasikivi (November 27, 1870 – December 14, 1956) was President of Finland from 1946 to 1956. ... Lauri Ingman (1868-1934) was a Finnish theologian, clergyman and politician. ... Kaarlo Castrén (born February 28, 1860 in Turtola, died November 19, 1938) was a Finnish politician and Prime Minister of Finland. ... Juho Heikki Vennola (originally Karhu, born June 19, 1872 in Oulu, died December 3, 1938 in Helsinki) was Professor of National Economics at the University of Helsinki, a member of the Parliament of Finland, and a politician from the National Progressive Party, who served as Prime Minister of Finland for... Rafael Waldemar Erich (born June 10, 1879 in Turku, died February 19, 1946 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician from the National Coalition Party, Professor, diplomat, and Prime Minister of Finland. ... Juho Heikki Vennola (originally Karhu, born June 19, 1872 in Oulu, died December 3, 1938 in Helsinki) was Professor of National Economics at the University of Helsinki, a member of the Parliament of Finland, and a politician from the National Progressive Party, who served as Prime Minister of Finland for... Aimo Kaarlo Cajander (1879–1943) was, outside of Botanics, best known as Prime Minister of Finland up to the Winter War. ... Statue of K. Kallio in Helsinki Kyösti Kallio (April 10, 1873 – December 19, 1940) was the fourth President of Finland (1937-1940), having already served no fewer than four times as the countrys Prime Minister. ... Aimo Kaarlo Cajander (1879–1943) was, outside of Botanics, best known as Prime Minister of Finland up to the Winter War. ... Lauri Ingman (1868-1934) was a Finnish theologian, clergyman and politician. ... Antti Agathon Tulenheimo (December 4, 1879 – September 3, 1952) was a Finnish politician from the Coalition Party who served as Prime Minister of Finland in 1925. ... Statue of K. Kallio in Helsinki Kyösti Kallio (April 10, 1873 – December 19, 1940) was the fourth President of Finland (1937-1940), having already served no fewer than four times as the countrys Prime Minister. ... Väinö Tanner (March 12, 1881 – April 19, 1966) was a pioneer and leader in the Co-op Movement in Finland. ... Johan (Juho) Emil Sunila (born August 16, 1875 in Liminka, died October 2, 1936 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician from the Agrarian Party, the managing director of the agrarian finance board, and Prime Minister of Finland in two cabinets. ... Statue of K. Kallio in Helsinki Kyösti Kallio (April 10, 1873 – December 19, 1940) was the fourth President of Finland (1937-1940), having already served no fewer than four times as the countrys Prime Minister. ... Pehr Evind Svinhufvud af Qvalstad (December 15, 1861 – February 29, 1944) was the President of Finland from 1931 to 1937. ... Johan (Juho) Emil Sunila (born August 16, 1875 in Liminka, died October 2, 1936 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician from the Agrarian Party, the managing director of the agrarian finance board, and Prime Minister of Finland in two cabinets. ... Toivo Mikael Kivimäki (1886–1968), J.D., was head of the department of civil law at Helsinki University 1931–1956, Prime Minister of Finland 1932–1936, and Finlands ambassador to Berlin 1940–1944. ... Statue of K. Kallio in Helsinki Kyösti Kallio (April 10, 1873 – December 19, 1940) was the fourth President of Finland (1937-1940), having already served no fewer than four times as the countrys Prime Minister. ... Aimo Kaarlo Cajander (1879–1943) was, outside of Botanics, best known as Prime Minister of Finland up to the Winter War. ... Risto Heikki Ryti (February 3, 1889 - October 25, 1956) was the president of Finland from 1940 to 1944. ... Edwin Linkomies (1894–1963, until 1928 Edwin Flinck) was Prime Minister of Finland March 1943 to August 1944, and therefore one of the seven politicians on Soviet demands sentenced to 5½ years in prison as allegedly responsible for the Continuation War. ... Juho Kusti Paasikivi (November 27, 1870 – December 14, 1956) was President of Finland from 1946 to 1956. ... Karl-August Fagerholm (born 31 December 1901, dead 22 May 1984) was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland (1948–50, 1956–57, 1958–59). ... Sakari Tuomioja in 1956 Sakari Severi Tuomioja (August 29, 1911, Tampere — September 9, 1964, Helsinki) was a Finnish politician, diplomat, Prime Minister of Finland during the caretaker government which was formed in 1953. ... Ralf Johan Gustaf Törngren, (born 1 March 1899 in Oulu, dead 16 May 1961 in Turku), was a Finnish politician. ... Karl-August Fagerholm (born 31 December 1901, dead 22 May 1984) was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland (1948–50, 1956–57, 1958–59). ... Reino Iisakki Kuuskoski (18. ... Karl-August Fagerholm (born 31 December 1901, dead 22 May 1984) was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland (1948–50, 1956–57, 1958–59). ... Martti Miettunen (1908–January 19, 2002) was a politician in Finland. ... Ahti Kalle Samuli Karjalainen (born 10 February 1923 in Hirvensalmi, died 7 September 1990 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician. ... Johannes Virolainen (January 31, 1914 - December 11, 2000) was a Finnish politician. ... Rafael Paasio (Kustaa) (1903 - 1980), Finnish editor & political figure; prime minister of Finland 1966-1968, 1972. ... Dr. Mauno Henrik Koivisto [IPA: mÉ‘uno henrik koiÊ‹isto] (born November 25, 1923) was the President of Finland from 1982 to 1994. ... Teuvo Aura (born December 28, 1912 in Ruskeala; died January 11, 1999 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician and Prime Minister of Finland in 1970 and 1971-72 References [1] This Finnish biographical article is a stub. ... Ahti Kalle Samuli Karjalainen (born 10 February 1923 in Hirvensalmi, died 7 September 1990 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician. ... Teuvo Aura (born December 28, 1912 in Ruskeala; died January 11, 1999 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician and Prime Minister of Finland in 1970 and 1971-72 References [1] This Finnish biographical article is a stub. ... Rafael Paasio (Kustaa) (1903 - 1980), Finnish editor & political figure; prime minister of Finland 1966-1968, 1972. ... Taisto Kalevi Sorsa (December 21, 1930 - January 16, 2004) was a Finnish politician who was Prime Minister of Finland four times: 1972-1975, 1977-1979, 1982-1983 and 1983-1987 and at the date of his death still held the Finnish record of most days of incumbency as prime minister. ... Keijo Antero Liinamaa (6 April 1929 – 28 June 1980), lawyer and caretaker Prime Minister of Finland. ... Martti Miettunen (1908–January 19, 2002) was a politician in Finland. ... Taisto Kalevi Sorsa (December 21, 1930 - January 16, 2004) was a Finnish politician who was Prime Minister of Finland four times: 1972-1975, 1977-1979, 1982-1983 and 1983-1987 and at the date of his death still held the Finnish record of most days of incumbency as prime minister. ... Dr. Mauno Henrik Koivisto [IPA: mÉ‘uno henrik koiÊ‹isto] (born November 25, 1923) was the President of Finland from 1982 to 1994. ... Taisto Kalevi Sorsa (December 21, 1930 - January 16, 2004) was a Finnish politician who was Prime Minister of Finland four times: 1972-1975, 1977-1979, 1982-1983 and 1983-1987 and at the date of his death still held the Finnish record of most days of incumbency as prime minister. ... Harri Hermanni Holkeri (born January 6, 1937 in Oripää) is a Finnish politician of the National Coalition Party of Finland (Kokoomus) who was Prime Minister of Finland 1987-1991, speaker of the UN General Assembly 2000-2001 and headed UNMIK. The current head is Søren Jessen-Petersen. ... Esko Tapani Aho (born May 20, 1954) is a statesman and former Prime Minister of Finland. ... Paavo Lipponen Paavo Tapio Lipponen (b. ... Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Prime Minister 2003, MEP 2004- Anneli Tuulikki Jäätteenmäki (Master of Laws, born February 11, 1955 in Lapua) was the first female Prime Minister of Finland, in office April 17th, 2003, to June 18th, 2003. ... Matti Taneli Vanhanen ( ) (born November 4, 1955, in Jyväskylä) is the current Prime Minister of Finland, as well as Chairman of the Centre Party. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... Pielavesi is a municipality of Finland. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location of Helsinki in Northern Europe Coordinates: Country Finland Province Southern Finland Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Charter 1550 Capital city 1812 Government  - Lord Mayor Jussi Pajunen  - Mayor Pekka Korpinen  - Mayor Ilkka-Christian Björklund  - Mayor Pekka Sauri  - Mayor Paula Kokkonen Area  - City 187. ...