Esko Aho
Encyclopedia
Esko Tapani Aho is a statesman
and former Prime Minister of Finland
.
, Finland
. Prior to attending university, he began a career in politics. From 1974 to 1979, he was Chairman of the Finnish Centre Youth, which had before him grown many of his predecessors to high political situations. In 1978, he became a Presidential elector, a position he also held in 1982 and 1998. From 1979 to 1980, Aho was Political Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1980 to 1983, he was a trade promoter for the Kannus municipality.
Aho studied at the Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki
), receiving a Master of Social Science degree in 1981.
Since 2010 - Skolkovo Foundation Council member.
At 36 years of age, he was the youngest Prime Minister in Finnish history.
Aho was the prime minister of the centre-right coalition government (Centre Party, National Coalition Party, Christian Democrats and Swedish People's Party) from 1991 to 1995. He is best known for leading Finland into the European Union
. Aho's own party, gaining most of its support from rural areas, was the most opposed the EU membership among major parties, the greatest concern was the agricultural situation., but was persuaded behind it due to prime minister's diplomacy. Finland applied for EU membership on 16 March 1992 and a referendum was held two and a half years later. Aho's government faced also the deep economic depression of the early 1990s. Despite a steep rise in the national debt, the Aho government applied a stringent cut-and-save policy that made it unpopular. This partly caused its fall in the 1995 election and Centre Party's eight-year period in opposition.
He was known by the nickname "Kannuksen Kennedy" ("The Kennedy of Kannus", Kannus
being his hometown) due to his streamlined and well coiffed habitus, a comparison with United States
President
John F. Kennedy
.
Esko Aho lost the bid for President of Finland
to Tarja Halonen
in 2000. After that he retired from active politics in the early initially through a "sabbatical leave" of one year to lecture at Harvard University
(where he was resident fellow at the Institute of Politics). In the 2003 election he left parliament and retired from daily politics. He then served as the president of the SITRA
, the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development (the state innovation fund).
In 2008, Aho's name was included in an opinion poll of possible Presidential candidate, which he ranked last.
It was announced by Nokia
in August 2008 that Aho would be joining Nokia as Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations and Responsibility and become a member of its executive board. He took up these positions on November 1, 2008.
At the time of his rise to Prime Minister, he was the youngest head-of-government in Europe.
Aho is a member of the Club of Madrid
.
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
and former Prime Minister of Finland
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...
.
Early life and career
Aho was born in VeteliVeteli
Veteli is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
, Finland
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...
. Prior to attending university, he began a career in politics. From 1974 to 1979, he was Chairman of the Finnish Centre Youth, which had before him grown many of his predecessors to high political situations. In 1978, he became a Presidential elector, a position he also held in 1982 and 1998. From 1979 to 1980, Aho was Political Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1980 to 1983, he was a trade promoter for the Kannus municipality.
Aho studied at the Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
), receiving a Master of Social Science degree in 1981.
Since 2010 - Skolkovo Foundation Council member.
Parliamentary career
Aho was first elected to the eduskunta (Finnish Parliament) in 1983. He became Chairman of the Centre Party in 1990, a position that he held until 2002. The party is one of three major political parties in Finland.At 36 years of age, he was the youngest Prime Minister in Finnish history.
Aho was the prime minister of the centre-right coalition government (Centre Party, National Coalition Party, Christian Democrats and Swedish People's Party) from 1991 to 1995. He is best known for leading Finland into the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. Aho's own party, gaining most of its support from rural areas, was the most opposed the EU membership among major parties, the greatest concern was the agricultural situation., but was persuaded behind it due to prime minister's diplomacy. Finland applied for EU membership on 16 March 1992 and a referendum was held two and a half years later. Aho's government faced also the deep economic depression of the early 1990s. Despite a steep rise in the national debt, the Aho government applied a stringent cut-and-save policy that made it unpopular. This partly caused its fall in the 1995 election and Centre Party's eight-year period in opposition.
He was known by the nickname "Kannuksen Kennedy" ("The Kennedy of Kannus", Kannus
Kannus
Kannus is a town and municipality and city of Finland.It is situated in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of , of which is water. The population density is .The municipality is unilingually...
being his hometown) due to his streamlined and well coiffed habitus, a comparison with United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
Esko Aho lost the bid for President of Finland
President of Finland
The President of the Republic of Finland is the nation's head of state. Under the Finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people of Finland for a term of six years....
to Tarja Halonen
Tarja Halonen
Tarja Kaarina Halonen is the incumbent President of Finland. The first female to hold the office, Halonen had previously been a member of the parliament from 1979 to 2000 when she resigned after her election to the presidency...
in 2000. After that he retired from active politics in the early initially through a "sabbatical leave" of one year to lecture at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(where he was resident fellow at the Institute of Politics). In the 2003 election he left parliament and retired from daily politics. He then served as the president of the SITRA
SITRA
SITRA , the Finnish Innovation Fund, was founded in the year 1967 as a part of the Bank of Finland. Currently it is an independent public foundation which operates directly under the supervision of the Finnish Parliament. Sitra's president is Mr. Mikko Kosonen.Sitra's duties are stated in legislation...
, the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development (the state innovation fund).
In 2008, Aho's name was included in an opinion poll of possible Presidential candidate, which he ranked last.
It was announced by Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
in August 2008 that Aho would be joining Nokia as Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations and Responsibility and become a member of its executive board. He took up these positions on November 1, 2008.
At the time of his rise to Prime Minister, he was the youngest head-of-government in Europe.
Aho is a member of the Club of Madrid
Club of Madrid
The Club de Madrid is an independent non-profit organization created to promote democracy and change in the international community. Composed of 80 former Presidents and Prime Ministers from 56 countries, the Club de Madrid is the world’s largest forum of former Heads of State and Government.Among...
.