Mauno Koivisto

President of Finland (1923–2017)

Mauno Koivisto (25 November 1923 – 12 May 2017) was a Finnish politician. He was the ninth President of Finland and the 32nd Prime Minister of Finland.

Mauno Koivisto
Koivisto in 1967
9th President of Finland
In office
January 27, 1982 – March 1, 1994
Prime MinisterKalevi Sorsa
Harri Holkeri
Esko Aho
Preceded byUrho Kekkonen
Succeeded byMartti Ahtisaari
32nd Prime Minister of Finland
In office
May 26, 1979 – January 26, 1982
PresidentUrho Kekkonen
DeputyEino Uusitalo
Preceded byKalevi Sorsa
Succeeded byKalevi Sorsa
In office
March 3, 1968 – May 14, 1970
PresidentUrho Kekkonen
DeputyJohannes Virolainen
Preceded byRafael Paasio
Succeeded byTeuvo Aura
Personal details
Born(1923-11-25)25 November 1923
Turku, Finland
Died12 May 2017(2017-05-12) (aged 93)
Helsinki, Finland
NationalityFinnish
Political partySocial Democratic Party
Spouse(s)
Tellervo Kankaanranta
(m. 1952; his death 2017)
ChildrenAssi Koivisto (born 1957)
Signature

Early life change

Koivisto was born in Turku. His family was not rich, his father was a carpenter building ships. His mother died when he was young. He finished school in young age, and took odd jobs. In Second world war Koivisto volunteered at the front. After the war he joined Social democratic party.[1]

Koivisto studied in his adult age and became doctor of law in 1953.[1]

Prime Minister change

In 1968 Koivisto become prime minister of Finland. He was very popular. His popularity helped him to become president in 1982 when Urho Kekkonen was too sick to continue. Koivisto won a second term in election.[1]

President change

As a president, Koivisto continued line of Kekkonen and was careful to practice neutral policy. This meant that he was not too visibly anti-soviet or pro-soviet. During his time Finland changed constitution so that the president had less power than before.[1]

Death change

Koivisto's health declined in December 2016 due to Alzheimer's disease and his wife Tellervo started as his caregiver.

In January 2017, Koivisto fell badly at his home and broke his hand, after which he moved to a nursing home. In May 2017, Koivisto was put in end-of-life care.[2] Koivisto died on 12 May 2017 in Helsinki from complications of Alzheimer's disease, aged 93.[3]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Koivisto, Mauno (1923 - ) Finnish Dictionary of National Biography online.
  2. "Mauno Koiviston terveys heikentyi alkuvuodesta – kaatuminen vei hoitokotiin" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2017-05-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Other websites change