Kallio, Kyösti

Kallio, Kyösti

(kü`östē käl`lyô), 1873–1940, Finnish political leader. Of peasant background, he entered politics and was a vocal advocate of Finnish independence from Russia. Minister of agriculture in the newly independent government (1917–20, 1921–22), he was instrumental in inaugurating land redistribution. He served a number of times as prime minister (1922–24, 1925–26, 1929–30, and 1936–37) and was president of Finland from 1937 to Nov., 1940. Illness and strain brought on by the Finnish-Russian War of 1939–40 led to his resignation.

Kallio, Kyösti

 

Born Apr. 10, 1873, in Ylivieska; died Dec. 19, 1940, in Helsinki. Finnish state and political figure.

Kallio joined the Agrarian Party in 1906 and belonged to its right wing. In 1907 he became a deputy in the parliament and was its chairman many times (beginning in 1920). In the years 1922–24, 1925–26, 1929–30, and 1936–37, he was prime minister. From 1937 to 1940, while he was president of Finland, Kallio carried out a reactionary foreign policy favored by Finnish ruling circles.