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An Interview by James Fichter and Jyri Wilska
Cambridge, MA, 3 November 2000
Esko Aho was first elected to the Finnish parliament in 1983 and is now serving his fifth term. He became the chairman of the Centre Party (Keskusta Puolue) in 1990, at a critical time in the party’s history. In 1991 the Centre Party became the largest party in Finland, and Aho became prime minister. In 1999 Aho stood for election to the Finnish presidency for the first time. He is currently a fellow at the Kennedy School of Government on leave from parliament.
The four years of Aho’s government were the most crucial in Europe since the end of World War II. Most importantly, during these years Finland applied to and joined the European Union. These years also saw the fall of the Soviet Union, which lead to a complete restructuring of diplomatic relations in Eastern Europe. Aho quickly reestablished diplomatic ties with the Baltic states and with the rest of the former Soviet Union, stabilizing Finland’s position in northern Europe. Aho’s government laid the groundwork for the friendly relations with the Baltic states that are now playing a role in the expansion of the European Union there. During Aho’s watch Finland also faced economic crisis due to the end of its trading relationship with the Soviet Union. His government began the call for the restructuring of the Finnish economic system, a process still being carried out.
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