Lauri Kristian Relander

Lauri Kristian Relander ( born May 31, 1883 in Kurkijoki at Viipuri, † February 9, 1942 in Helsinki) was 1925-1931 President of Finland.

Life

Relander, who was baptized as Lars Kristian, was " finn landi Siert " during his school days in Lauri. He initially followed the career of his father, who was agronomist and studied agricultural science. In 1910 he was for the Finnish agricultural union (later: Finnish Centre Party ) elected to parliament in 1917 he was even chairman of the party. After the declaration of independence of Finland Relander made ​​a meteoric career and was 1919/20, Speaker of the Eduskunta, as the Finnish Parliament is called. Support for Relander was initially scarce and it was set up until a few days before the presidential election in 1925 as a candidate.

As President Relander was very inexperienced and policy makers could not take him seriously. He was alleged to have placed a sufficient program for his presidency. This detracted continue his support. Even his trips abroad earned him criticism. He was often compared to President Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg, who made no trips abroad. His cabinet was considered weak and short-lived, as in many new democracies that time.

1931 Relander was aware that he could not be reelected and sabotaged the prospects of his party comrades Kyösti Kallio, so that the former Prime Minister Pehr Evind Svinhufvud was elected as his successor.

After his time as president, he was chairman of a fire insurance company for the agricultural community. Relander died in 1942 of heart failure.