Sakari Tuomioja
Encyclopedia
Sakari Severi Tuomioja was a Finnish
politician (Edistyspuolue
), diplomat, Prime Minister of Finland
during the caretaker government
which was formed in 1953. Tuomioja was also the Finnish ambassador to Sweden
and to the UK
and once the Minister of Foreign Affairs (1951–1952).
Sakari Tuomioja was married to Vappu Illike Tuomioja (née Wuolijoki), daughter of Estonia
n-born writer Hella Wuolijoki
. They had two children, Tuuli and Erkki
(Foreign Minister of Finland in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s). During the Continuation War
, Tuomioja joined the so-called Peace opposition
(as one of the few of Edistyspuolue members). After the war, his faction lost the power struggle within the Edistyspuolue
, and Tuomioja's supporters were invited to join the pro-communist umbrella organisation Finnish People's Democratic League
, an offer, which was rejected.
Later, Sakari Tuomioja was a UN agent at the Cyprus
dispute in 1963. Before Cyprus, Tuomioja was United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
's general secretary from 1957 to 1960. Tuomioja was the presidential candidate of the National Coalition Party and liberals at the 1956 elections. Tuomioja was the first Finn to be a member of the Bilderberg group
.
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 (Edistyspuolue
National Progressive Party (Finland)
The National Progressive Party was a liberal political party in Finland from 1918 to 1951. The party was founded December 8 1918, after the Finnish Civil War, by the republican majority of the Young Finnish Party and the republican minority of the Finnish Party...
), diplomat, 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:...
during the caretaker government
Caretaker government
Caretaker government is a type of government that rules temporarily. A caretaker government is often set up following a war until stable democratic rule can be restored, or installed, in which case it is often referred to as a provisional government...
which was formed in 1953. Tuomioja was also the Finnish ambassador to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and once the Minister of Foreign Affairs (1951–1952).
Sakari Tuomioja was married to Vappu Illike Tuomioja (née Wuolijoki), daughter of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n-born writer Hella Wuolijoki
Hella Wuolijoki
Hella Wuolijoki was a Finnish writer of Estonian origin, known for her Niskavuori series.-Life & career:Wuolijoki was born in Helme, Estonia....
. They had two children, Tuuli and Erkki
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...
(Foreign Minister of Finland in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s). During the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
, Tuomioja joined the so-called Peace opposition
Peace opposition
Peace opposition is a term used to describe a Finnish cross-party movement uniting both bourgeois politicians like Paasikivi, Kekkonen, Sakari Tuomioja etc. and social democrats, aiming at stepping out of the war and finding a way to conclude peace with the Soviet Union...
(as one of the few of Edistyspuolue members). After the war, his faction lost the power struggle within the Edistyspuolue
National Progressive Party (Finland)
The National Progressive Party was a liberal political party in Finland from 1918 to 1951. The party was founded December 8 1918, after the Finnish Civil War, by the republican majority of the Young Finnish Party and the republican minority of the Finnish Party...
, and Tuomioja's supporters were invited to join the pro-communist umbrella organisation Finnish People's Democratic League
Finnish People's Democratic League
Finnish People's Democratic League was a Finnish political organisation with the aim of uniting those left of the Finnish Social Democratic Party...
, an offer, which was rejected.
Later, Sakari Tuomioja was a UN agent at the Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
dispute in 1963. Before Cyprus, Tuomioja was United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe was established in 1947 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. It is one of five regional commissions under the administrative direction of United Nations headquarters. It has 56 member states, and reports to the UN Economic and...
's general secretary from 1957 to 1960. Tuomioja was the presidential candidate of the National Coalition Party and liberals at the 1956 elections. Tuomioja was the first Finn to be a member of the Bilderberg group
Bilderberg Group
The Bilderberg Group, Bilderberg conference, or Bilderberg Club is an annual, unofficial, invitation-only conference of approximately 120 to 140 guests from North America and Western Europe, most of whom are people of influence. About one-third are from government and politics, and two-thirds from...
.
Career
- 1944–1945 – Finance minister in Juho Kusti PaasikiviJuho Kusti PaasikiviJuho Kusti Paasikivi was the seventh President of Finland . Representing the Finnish Party and the National Coalition Party, he also served as Prime Minister of Finland , and was generally an influential figure in Finnish economics and politics for over fifty years...
's second government. - 1945–1955 – Head of the Bank of FinlandBank of FinlandThe Bank of Finland is the central bank of Finland. It is the fourth oldest central bank in the world.-History:The Bank of Finland was established on 1 March in 1812 in the city of Turku by Alexander I of Russia. In 1819 it was relocated to Helsinki...
. - 1953-1954 – Prime Minister of Finland during the caretaker government.
- 1955–1957 – Finland's ambassador to LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. - 1957–1960 – UN Europe's economy department's general secretary.
- 1960–1964 – Finland's ambassador to StockholmStockholmStockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.