Lauri Kristian Relander
Lauri Kristian Relander | |
|---|---|
Official Portrait, c. 1920s | |
| 2nd President of Finland | |
| In office 2 March 1925 – 2 March 1931 | |
| Prime Minister | Lauri Ingman Antti Tulenheimo Kyösti Kallio Väinö Tanner Juho Sunila Oskari Mantere Pehr Evind Svinhufvud |
| Preceded by | Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg |
| Succeeded by | Pehr Evind Svinhufvud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lars Kristian Relander 31 May 1883 Kurkijoki, Finland |
| Died | 9 February 1942 (aged 58) Helsinki, Finland |
| Resting place | Hietaniemi Cemetery |
| Party | Agrarian League |
| Spouse | Signe Relander |
| Relatives | Evald Relander (father) |
Lauri Kristian Relander (forenames Finnish: [ˈlɑu̯ri ˈkristiɑ̯n], surname Finland Swedish: [reˈlɑndær]; 31 May 1883 – 9 February 1942) was the president of Finland (1925–1931). A prominent member of the Agrarian League, he served as a member of Parliament, and as Speaker, before his election as president.
Relander is widely regarded as the most unknown of Finland's presidents, as he has been considered a colorless and weak president who, during a domestic politically broken period, allowed himself to be guided without a clear line of his own. In foreign policy, the policy of isolation was continued during Relander's term, although on the other hand the president did valuable work in representing Finland abroad and establishing relations at the head of state level with neighboring states, such as the other Nordic countries. Also during his presidency, Relander emphasized the preservation of social peace and otherwise required the left wing to accept the rules of the democracy, the right wing to accept the rules of the republic, and the nationalists to agree on the Finnish language policy.