WEEKLY SUMMARY SPECIAL REPORT FINLAND'S CONTROVERSIAL PRESIDENT KEKKONEN A CERTAINTY FOR RE-ELECTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00927A006200040003-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 18, 2005
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: January 5, 1968
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved F% Release 2005/02/14: CIA-RDP79-009006200040003-9
Secret
25X1
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
WEEKLY SUMMARY
Special Report
Finland's Controversial President Kekkonen
A Certainty for Re-election
Secret
5 January 1968
No. 0001/68A
Approved For Release 2005/02/14: CIA-RDP79-00927AO06200040003-9
 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/02/14: CIA-RDP79-00927AO06200040003-9
Approved For Release 2005/02/14: CIA-RDP79-00927AO06200040003-9
 Approved FbrrRelease 2005/02/14: CIA-RDP79-00923A006200040003-9
SECRET
In mid-January, Finnish voters will begin an
electoral process that is certain to culminate in
the formal re-election a month later of President
Urho Kekkonen to another six-year term in office.
Kekkonen, who has been president since 1956, has
no serious challengers--largely because aspiring
Finnish politicians do not want to jeopardize their
future prospects in a race they cannot win. Kek-
konen does not dominate the Finnish political scene
because of his personal image, but rather because
of his success in maintaining a cordial relation-
ship with Moscow, a policy he has convinced the
Finnish people is a necessity for survival. The
Soviet leadership in turn has made it clear that
he is one of the few Finnish politicians who en-
joys their confidence and support.
The next six years are likely to see a con-
tinuation of Finland's foreign policy, the main
elements of which are standing aside from dis-
putes involving the major powers and avoiding any
action that would bring into question Finland's
commitment to a policy of friendship and coopera-
tion with Moscow. Recognizing that the Soviets
require something more than verbal assurances on
this score, Kekkonen can be expected periodically
to make initiatives in the foreign policy field
which his Scandinavian neighbors and others in
the West will not like but which may gain him
credit in Moscow.
The Finnish Presidency--
Past and Present
The Finnish constitution
gives supreme executive power
to the president, and he appoints
the premier and cabinet. Unlike
most other European presidents,
the Finnish president is a
"strong" chief executive and the
constitution specifies that he
has the responsibility to "deter-
mine the relations of Finland to
foreign powers."
In domestic affairs, the Fin-
nish president has traditionally
been regarded as a sort of pater
familias who is expected to rise
above partisan considerations and
deal evenhandedly with all po-
litical, social, and economic
groups. Because of his foreign
as well as his domestic policies,
Kekkonen has been a controversial
president; although he commands
strong support from many, he is
deeply distrusted by others.
SECRET
Approved FovR9~ease 2005AM1