Kalevi Sorsa
Encyclopedia
Taisto Kalevi Sorsa 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. He was also a long-time leader of the Social Democratic Party of Finland
.
Kalevi Sorsa went to school in Jyväskylä
and Lappeenranta
. Sorsa started participating in SDP politics in Lappeenranta 1948. In 1969, Sorsa was brought in from relative obscurity by Rafael Paasio
to assume the influential post of party secretary without much previous experience of national politics.
Before his political career Sorsa worked for UNESCO
in Paris 1959–1965, and was Secretary-General of Finnish UNESCO board 1965–1969, and official in the Ministry of Education 1967–1969.
. Sorsa was the chairman of Social Democratic Party from 1969 to 1975 and Prime Minister of Finland
of four cabinets for about 10 years total (1972–1975, 1977–1979, 1982–1983, 1983–1987). He still holds the record of the longest-serving prime minister. He was the Speaker of Parliament from 1989 to 1991, and Deputy Prime Minister
1975–1976 and 1987–1989.
Sorsa is regarded as one of the most influential prime ministers of Finland. Sorsa's contribution was important both for public services such as schools and health care reforms, as well as the strengthening of social security for both families with children and pensioners. His governments took a number of domestic policy reforms (including the law on child care, the extension of maternity leave, the annual vacation benefit act, as well as the public health act). Sorsa's governments strengthened the Finnish welfare state.
Sorsa also participated actively in the international social democratic movement. He supported the OSCE process, as well as the projects to bridge the gap between world's rich and poor countries. Despite the opposition of far-left parties, Sorsa supported the EEC
free trade agreement in the 1970s, which would have made the ties between Finland and EEC countries closer. The agreement eventually got confirmed. Of the politicians of his era, he had the most difficult relationship with Paavo Väyrynen
, an equally strongwilled opponent at the helm of the Center Party. Another notable prolonged conflict was a rivalry with the young Paavo Lipponen
on his way up.
He met Soviet Premier Nikolai Tikhonov
during his state visit
to the Soviet Union
in 1984.
. Sorsa had collected inside his party a small, but significant amount of enemies over the years. They were among others Erkki Tuomioja
, Lasse Lehtinen
and Matti Ahde
. Sorsa replaced Ahde as Speaker in 1989. They all became influential forces behind Martti Ahtisaari campaign.
Kalevi Sorsa died of cancer on January 16, 2004 at his home in Helsinki. He participated in discussion of social politics until his last days. His last column was published posthumously.
The Kalevi Sorsa Foundation is a social democratic think tank
named in his honour.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
politician who was Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
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. He was also a long-time leader of the Social Democratic Party of Finland
Social Democratic Party of Finland
The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
.
Kalevi Sorsa went to school in Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
and Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta is a city and municipality that resides on the shore of the lake Saimaa in South-Eastern Finland, about from the Russian border. It belongs to the region of South Karelia. With approximately inhabitants Lappeenranta is the largest city in Finland...
. Sorsa started participating in SDP politics in Lappeenranta 1948. In 1969, Sorsa was brought in from relative obscurity by Rafael Paasio
Rafael Paasio
Kustaa Rafael Paasio was a prominent Finnish politician and editor from Social Democratic Party. He served as Prime Minister of Finland twice ....
to assume the influential post of party secretary without much previous experience of national politics.
Before his political career Sorsa worked for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in Paris 1959–1965, and was Secretary-General of Finnish UNESCO board 1965–1969, and official in the Ministry of Education 1967–1969.
Prime minister
Sorsa was one of the major political figures during presidencies of Kekkonen and KoivistoKoivisto
Koivisto has many meanings.Persons named Koivisto:* Anu Koivisto, Finnish backstroke swimmer* Mauno Koivisto, Finnish president, Ph.D.* Jussi V. Koivisto, Finnish economist, Ph.D.* Tom Koivisto, Finnish ice hockey player...
. Sorsa was the chairman of Social Democratic Party from 1969 to 1975 and Prime Minister of Finland
Prime Minister of Finland
The Prime Minister is the Head of Government of Finland. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, who is the Head of State. The current Prime Minister is Jyrki Katainen of the National Coalition Party.-Overview:...
of four cabinets for about 10 years total (1972–1975, 1977–1979, 1982–1983, 1983–1987). He still holds the record of the longest-serving prime minister. He was the Speaker of Parliament from 1989 to 1991, and Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of Finland
The Deputy Prime Minister of Finland is a member of the Council of State who becomes the acting Prime Minister when the actual Prime Minister is temporarily unable to discharge his or her duties. The Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Council of State and traditionally comes from the second...
1975–1976 and 1987–1989.
Sorsa is regarded as one of the most influential prime ministers of Finland. Sorsa's contribution was important both for public services such as schools and health care reforms, as well as the strengthening of social security for both families with children and pensioners. His governments took a number of domestic policy reforms (including the law on child care, the extension of maternity leave, the annual vacation benefit act, as well as the public health act). Sorsa's governments strengthened the Finnish welfare state.
Sorsa also participated actively in the international social democratic movement. He supported the OSCE process, as well as the projects to bridge the gap between world's rich and poor countries. Despite the opposition of far-left parties, Sorsa supported the EEC
EEC
EEC is an abbreviation that usually refers to the European Economic Community, the forerunner to the European Union.It may also refer to;* The East Erie Commercial Railroad, a shortline in Pennsylvania...
free trade agreement in the 1970s, which would have made the ties between Finland and EEC countries closer. The agreement eventually got confirmed. Of the politicians of his era, he had the most difficult relationship with Paavo Väyrynen
Paavo Väyrynen
Paavo Matti Väyrynen is a Finnish veteran politician of the Centre Party. Väyrynen has held several ministerial portfolios and is also a former Member of the European Parliament.-Career:...
, an equally strongwilled opponent at the helm of the Center Party. Another notable prolonged conflict was a rivalry with the young Paavo Lipponen
Paavo Lipponen
Paavo Tapio Lipponen is a Finnish politician and former reporter. He was Prime Minister of Finland from 1995 to 2003, and Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Finland from 1993 to 2005...
on his way up.
He met Soviet Premier Nikolai Tikhonov
Nikolai Tikhonov
Nikolai Aleksandrovich Tikhonov was a Soviet Russian-Ukrainian statesman during the Cold War. He served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1980 to 1985, and as a First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, literally First Vice Premier, from 1976 to 1980...
during his state visit
State visit
A state visit is a formal visit by a foreign head of state to another nation, at the invitation of that nation's head of state. State visits are the highest form of diplomatic contact between two nations, and are marked by ceremonial pomp and diplomatic protocol. In parliamentary democracies, heads...
to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1984.
Later years and death
In later years of his career, Sorsa went into his Social Democratic Party's primary elections as candidate for president in 1993, but was defeated in a humiliating way by the relatively unknown international civil servant Martti AhtisaariMartti Ahtisaari
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari is a Finnish politician, the tenth President of Finland , Nobel Peace Prize laureate and United Nations diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work....
. Sorsa had collected inside his party a small, but significant amount of enemies over the years. They were among others Erkki Tuomioja
Erkki Tuomioja
Erkki Sakari Tuomioja is the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs. He is currently a member of the Finnish Parliament.Tuomioja is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland, although his political views are thought to be more to the left than the party line. He is also a member of ATTAC...
, Lasse Lehtinen
Lasse Lehtinen
Lasse Lehtinen is a Finnish politician, former Member of the Finnish Parliament and former Member of the European Parliament...
and Matti Ahde
Matti Ahde
Matti Allan Ahde is a Finnish politician from the Social Democratic Party.He was member of the parliament from 1970 to 1990, when he left to become CEO of state monopoly Veikkaus. Ahde hold minister posts in Sorsa cabinets 1982-1987 and was elected to the position of the speaker of the parliament...
. Sorsa replaced Ahde as Speaker in 1989. They all became influential forces behind Martti Ahtisaari campaign.
Kalevi Sorsa died of cancer on January 16, 2004 at his home in Helsinki. He participated in discussion of social politics until his last days. His last column was published posthumously.
The Kalevi Sorsa Foundation is a social democratic think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
named in his honour.
See also
- Politics of FinlandPolitics of FinlandPolitics of Finland takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic and of a multi-party system. The President of Finland is the head of state, leads the foreign policy, and is the Commander-in-chief of the Defense Forces. The Prime Minister of Finland is the head...