Kustaa Rafael Paasio

Paasio, Kustaa Rafael

 

Born June 6, 1903, in Uskela, near the city of Salo. Finnish politician and statesman.

Beginning in 1920, Paasio worked in a technical capacity with various newspapers. Between 1938 and 1942 he was editor of the newspaper Työläisnuoriso, organ of the Social Democratic League of Working Youth. He became the league’s chairman in 1941, a post he held until 1945. From 1942 to 1963, he was editor in chief of Turun Päivälehti, the newspaper of the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDPF) in Turku. In 1957 he was elected to the Executive Committee of the SDPF and from 1963 to 1975 he was party chairman.

Paasio served as chairman of the parliamentary commission on foreign policy from 1949 to 1966. In 1966, and again between 1970 and 1972, he was president of the parliament. In 1951 and 1958, Paasio served as minister of social affairs. He was prime minister from 1966 to 1968 and again in 1972.