Ahti Karjalainen
| Ahti Karjalainen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Prime Minister of Finland | |
| In office 13 April 1962 – 18 December 1963 |
|
| Deputy | Johannes Virolainen |
| Preceded by | Martti Miettunen |
| Succeeded by | Reino Ragnar Lehto |
| In office 15 July 1970 – 29 October 1971 |
|
| Deputy | Veikko Helle |
| Preceded by | Teuvo Aura |
| Succeeded by | Teuvo Aura |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 February 1923 Hirvensalmi |
| Died | 7 September 1990 |
| Political party | Centre Party |
Ahti Kalle Samuli Karjalainen (10 February 1923 in Hirvensalmi – 7 September 1990 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician. He was a member of the Agrarian League (later known as Keskusta, Centre Party) and was Prime Minister of Finland for two terms[1]. Karjalainen is considered one of the most influential people in post-war Finnish politics and economy.
Karjalainen served as second Minister of Treasury, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Trade and Industry from 1957, until he formed his first government on 13 April 1962, which was in session for 615 days until 18 December 1963. After that, the government was disbanded because SAK-sympathetic ministers had resigned because of economy-political disagreements. Karjalainen's second government was in session 15 July 1970–29 October 1971. Karjalainen's ministrial career continued with only minor breaks to May, 1977, when he had spent 5772 days as a political minister. In the history of Finnish politics, this is second only to Johannes Virolainen. Karjalainen was nominated as a candidate for the Parliament of Finland in 1966 and served as Member of the Parliament for 13 years.
Urho Kekkonen took Karjalainen as his secretary in his first government in 1950. This was the start of co-operation between Kekkonen and Karjalainen, which continued as good and tight for over 20 years. The co-operation was broken up when Kekkonen disbanded Karjalainen's, who was seen as his future successor, second government in 1971. Karjalainen sought to be the presidential candidate for the Centre Party in 1981, but lost to Johannes Virolainen. In January 1982, Mauno Koivisto was elected as President of Finland after Kekkonen resigned.
Karjalainen had a great career in the Bank of Finland. He served as director of its research facility from 1953 to 1957 and was elected to the Board of Management in 1958. Karjalainen served as deputy Managing Director of the Bank of Finland from 1979, acting Chairman of the Board from 1979 to 1982 and as Managing Director from 1982 to 1983.
Karjalainen was a Doctor of Political Science. His thesis was entitled "The relationships between the monetary politics of the Bank of Finland and the state economy from 1811 to 1953 mainly regarding liquidity analysis".
Especially the latter part of Karjalainen's political career was influenced by alcoholism (at one stage after he had left the Prime Ministry, there was a national scandal when he was arrested for drunk driving). Karjalainen's use of alcoholic beverages and his rather personal pronunciation of the English language gave him a popular nickname "Tankero". In Finland, "Tankero jokes" have almost become national heritage.
In 1989 Karjalainen published letters which showed how Paavo Väyrynen had worked with KGB spy Viktor Vladimirov.[2][3][4]
Karjalainen died of pancreatic cancer in September 1990.
[edit] References
- ^ "Ministerikortisto". Valtioneuvosto. http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/hakemisto/ministerikortisto/ministeritiedot.asp?nro=146.
- ^ Finlandization' Wins Respect of Finns
- ^ HS kuukausiliite 1/2010, pages 32-36
- ^ Vanhan liiton mies. Iltasanomat. 18.10.2008
[edit] External links
- Ahti Karjalainen in the minister database of the state council
- Biography of Karjalainen on Hirvensalmi's pages
- Ahti Karjalainen in the YLE national sound clip gallery
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Martti Miettunen |
Prime Ministers of Finland 1962–1963 |
Succeeded by Reino Ragnar Lehto |
| Preceded by Teuvo Aura |
Prime Ministers of Finland 1970–1971 |
Succeeded by Teuvo Aura |
|
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