15 Facts About Kalevi Sorsa

Kalevi Sorsa was a long-time leader of the Social Democratic Party of Finland.

Taisto Kalevi Sorsa was born on 21 December 1930 in Keuruu.

Kalevi Sorsa was a leading political figure during the presidencies of Kekkonen and Koivisto.

Kalevi Sorsa served as the chairman of the Social Democratic Party from 1975 to 1987 and was Prime Minister of Finland in four centre-left coalitions for a total of ten years.

From 1987 to 1996, Kalevi Sorsa served on the governing board of the Bank of Finland.

Kalevi Sorsa was known for his participation as the convener in the economic policy seminar at Hotel Korpilampi in Lahnus, Espoo, in September 1977.

Kalevi Sorsa is regarded as one of Finland's most influential prime ministers, making major contributions to schools and health care, and increasing social security for families with children and pensioners.

In domestic politics, Kalevi Sorsa had a particularly difficult relationship with Paavo Vayrynen, the strong-willed head of the Center Party.

Kalevi Sorsa supported the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe after its creation in 1975, as well as projects to bridge the gap between the world's richest and poorest countries.

Kalevi Sorsa was active in the international social democratic movement, and in the mid-1970s was elected vice-president of the Socialist International.

In 1993, Kalevi Sorsa sought to become the Social Democratic Party's presidential candidate, but in the primary elections, which were exceptionally and controversially open to all Finns regardless of their party membership, he lost to his challenger Martti Ahtisaari, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1977 to 1981, who later won the main presidential elections and went on to become the Finnish President.

Kalevi Sorsa continued to participate in discussions of social policy until the end of his life, his last column being published posthumously.

Kalevi Sorsa died of cancer on 16 January 2004 at his home in Helsinki at the age of 73.

Kalevi Sorsa was survived by his wife; the couple had no children.

The Kalevi Sorsa Foundation is a social democratic think tank, established in 2005 and named in his honour.