Lauri Kristian Relander

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Lauri Kristian Relander
2nd President of Finland
In office March 1, 1925 – March 1, 1931
Preceded by	Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg
Succeeded by	Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
Born	May 31, 1883, Kurkijoki
Died	February 9, 1942, Helsinki
Political party	Agrarian League

Lauri Kristian Relander (May 31, 1883 – February 9, 1942) was the second President of Finland (1925-1931). A prominent member of the Agrarian League, he served as a member of Parliament, and as Speaker, before his election as President.

Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Politician 3 President 4 References

[edit] Early life and career

Relander was born in Kurkijoki, in Karelia, the son of Evald Kristian Relander, an agronomist, and Gertrud Maria Olsoni. He was christened Lars Kristian, but his name was Finnicized to Lauri during his time at school. Relander followed in his father's footsteps by enrolling at the University of Helsinki in 1901 to study agronomy. He gained his first Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy in 1905, and his second - in Agronomy - the following year. That year also saw his marriage to Signe Maria Österman (1886-1962). They had two children, Maja-Lisa (1907–1990) and Ragnar (1910-1970).

The major subjects for Relander's Master's Degree, which he gained in 1907, were agricultural chemistry and agricultural economics. After obtaining his degree, Relander worked from 1908 to 1917 as a researcher at a state agricultural experimental institution, carrying out some important research in his field. He also continued his studies, gaining his Doctorate in 1914. However, his attempts at this time to gain a lectureship at the University of Helsinki failed. At this time Relander was also politically active in the Agrarian League. He was elected to Parliament in 1910, serving until 1913, and again from 1917 to 1920. By 1917 he had become one of the leaders of the party.

[edit] Politician

After independence, his political career went well. He was a prominent member of his party, and served on a number of parliamentary committees. Relander was elected as Speaker of the Eduskunta for its 1919 session and part of its 1920 session. Later that year he was appointed Governor of the Province of Viipuri. However, in the 1920s he did not have enough support in his own party to become a minister.

In 1925, Relander was nominated as his party's candidate for that years presidential election - his nomination only being confirmed just days before election day. Relander was only 41 at the time, and his nomination came as a surprise. It was further guaranteed by the fact that some of the party's key figures, such as Santeri Alkio and Kyösti Kallio, declined to stand. Relander was elected in the third ballot of the electoral college, defeating the National Progressive Partycandidate Risto Ryti by 179 votes to 109. He was elected largely due to the fact that he attracted less opposition than Risto Ryti.

[edit] President

As President, Relander was politically inexperienced and young. Politicians and other opinion leaders could not take him seriously. Relander had no political base to speak of, and he was deemed to have no particular program for his presidency, which further decreased his support. Even Relander's continual state visits and trips drew criticism, leading to him gaining the nickname of Reissu-Lassi ('Travelling Larry'). He was continually compared to Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg and his performance as president. The cabinets during his term tended to be weak, short-lived minority cabinets, like in most European democracies of that time. All in all, Relander is remembered as a weak leader.

In 1931, Relander realized he would not be re-elected, and sabotaged the prospects of his former Agrarian League colleague and rival Kyösti Kallio, so that Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, Relander’s former Prime Minister, was elected.

After his term as President, he served from 1931 to 1942 as the General Manager of Suomen maalaisten paloapuyhdistys, a fire insurance company for rural people. Relander died in 1942 of heart failure.

[edit] References

Preceded by Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg

President of Finland 1925–1931

Succeeded by Pehr Evind Svinhufvud

Presidents of Finland
Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg • Lauri Kristian Relander • Pehr Evind Svinhufvud • Kyösti Kallio • Risto Ryti • Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim • Juho Kusti Paasikivi • Urho Kekkonen • Mauno Koivisto • Martti Ahtisaari • Tarja Halonen