Editing Mauno Koivisto (section)

==Presidency (1982–1994)==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-0930-046, Dresden, Koivisto-Besuch, Wolfgang Berghofer.jpg|thumb|President Mauno Koivisto and Tellervo Koivisto visiting Dresden, East Germany, 1987]]
As president, Koivisto kept a low profile and used less authoritarian leadership tactics than Kekkonen had employed, refraining from using some of his presidential powers and initiating a new era of parliamentarianism in Finland.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} On the other hand, he had an occasionally difficult relationship with [[journalist]]s, which he famously called "[[lemming]]s".<ref>Himberg, Petra: [https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2015/11/05/koivisto-vertasi-toimittajia-sopuleihin Koivisto vertasi toimittajia sopuleihin], Yle Elävä arkisto 5 November 2015. Accessed on 23 August 2021.</ref> One practical problem that quite a few reporters had with Koivisto's statements was their deeply pondering and philosophical nature.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Mauno Koivisto's presidency (1982–1994) marked a deliberate shift from the strong presidential dominance of his predecessor, Urho Kekkonen, towards a more parliament-centered governance. He consciously limited the exercise of presidential powers, fostering an environment where the Prime Minister and Parliament assumed greater responsibility in decision-making processes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Etusivu |url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/english/person/633?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=kansallisbiografia.fi}}</ref>

Koivisto also supported constitutional reforms aimed at reducing presidential authority, thereby strengthening Finland's parliamentary system. This transition contributed to a more balanced distribution of power within the Finnish government, aligning with his commitment to democratic principles.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kujanen |first=Maarika |last2=Koskimaa |first2=Vesa |last3=Raunio |first3=Tapio |date=2024-10-01 |title=President’s constitutional powers and public activism: a focused analysis of presidential speeches under Finland’s two presidencies |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41295-023-00375-z?utm_source=chatgpt.com |journal=Comparative European Politics |language=en |volume=22 |issue=5 |pages=594–615 |doi=10.1057/s41295-023-00375-z |issn=1740-388X|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Those statements were not often easy to interpret, unlike Kekkonen's blunt and sometimes harsh statements.<ref>"The Republic's President 1956-1982" / "Tasavallan presidentti 1956–1982", published in Finland in 1993–94</ref><ref>"The Republic's President 1982-1994" / "Tasavallan presidentti 1982–1994", published in Finland in 1993–94</ref><ref>Mauno Koivisto, "Two Terms I: Memories and Notes, 1982-1994" / "Kaksi kautta I. Muistikuvia ja merkintöjä 1982–1994", Helsinki: Kirjayhtymä Publishing Ltd., 1994</ref> As the leader of [[Foreign relations of Finland|Finland's foreign policies]] he initially continued Kekkonen's line until the collapse of the Soviet Union. He also continued the established practice of returning Soviet defectors to the Soviet Union,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1101980957580 |title=President Kekkonen insisted on sending back Soviet defectors |publisher=Helsingin Sanomat, International Edition |access-date = 2007-11-11}}</ref> a custom now prohibited as a human rights violation by the [[Constitution of Finland|Finnish constitution]].

Koivisto created close contacts with [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], [[George H. W. Bush]], and [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref name=maunokoivisto>{{cite news |title = Mauno Koivisto, president who led Finland out of Soviet shadow, dies at 93 | newspaper = Washington Post |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/mauno-koivisto-president-who-led-finland-out-of-soviet-shadow-dies-at-93/2017/05/13/50d53566-37eb-11e7-b4ee-434b6d506b37_story.html |access-date = June 5, 2017 }}</ref> He carried on private correspondence with Gorbachev and Bush.<ref name=maunokoivistoobituary>{{cite web |title = Mauno Koivisto 1923-2017 | date = 13 May 2017 | publisher = Helsingin Sanomat |url = http://www.hs.fi/muistot/art-2000005211372.html |access-date = June 5, 2017 }}</ref> His ties to the other [[Nordic countries]] and Nordic colleagues were very close and trustworthy. He spoke fluent Russian, Swedish, English, and German.<ref name=maunokoivistoinmemoriam>{{cite web |title = In memoriam: En statsman, vän och kamrat | publisher = Arbetarbladet |url = http://arbetarbladet.fi/in-memoriam-en-statsman-van-och-kamrat/ |access-date = June 5, 2017 }}</ref>

In the critical moments during which the Soviet Union was collapsing, and the Baltic countries, particularly Estonia, were declaring themselves independent, Koivisto referred to the policy of neutrality and avoided publicly supporting the Baltic independence movement, but its members were allowed to work from Finland. Koivisto's Finland recognized the new Estonian government only after the major powers had done so. Koivisto did however covertly send money to Estonia to assist their independence movement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/ex-president_koivisto_secretly_funnelled_money_to_support_estonian_independence/9613509|title=Ex-President Koivisto secretly funnelled money to support Estonian independence|website=Yle Uutiset|date=15 May 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.err.ee/596074/late-finnish-president-covertly-supported-estonian-independence|title=Late Finnish president covertly supported Estonian independence|last=ERR|date=2017-05-16|website=ERR|language=en|access-date=2019-12-01}}</ref>

Koivisto made two bold unilateral diplomatic moves that significantly changed the Finnish political position. In 1990, after the [[reunification of Germany]], Koivisto unilaterally renounced the terms of the [[Paris Peace Treaties, 1947|Paris Peace Treaties]] which limited the strength and armament of the [[Finnish Defence Forces]]. The rationale was that after Germany had been given its full rights as a sovereign state, Finland could not remain bound by the antiquated treaty. The renunciation caused no official protest from Soviet Union or Great Britain. The other major move was the renunciation of the [[Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948|Finno-Soviet Treaty]] ({{Langx|fi|YYA-sopimus}}) in 1991, concurrently with the fall of Soviet Union. The treaty, the military article of which had shaped Finnish foreign policy for decades, was substituted with a new treaty without military obligations in the next year.

[[File:KoivistoandRegan.jpg|thumb|Koivisto and [[Ronald Reagan]], [[Helsinki]], in 1988]]
[[File:Ahtisaari-Koivisto-1994.jpg|thumb|right|The President [[Martti Ahtisaari]] will inspect the company of honor followed by among others, the resigning President Mauno Koivisto in 1994.]]

In 1990, partly motivated by nationalism, partly by the fear of the declining work force, Koivisto proposed that any Soviet citizen with either Finnish or [[Ingrian Finns|Ingrian]] ancestry be enabled to immigrate to Finland as a returnee.<ref name="mmm1991">Koivisto, "Two Terms I". In ''"What Where When - Citizen's Yearbook 1991"'' / ''"Mitä Missä Milloin - Kansalaisen vuosikirja 1991"''</ref><ref name="mmm1992">''"What Where When - Citizen's Yearbook 1992"'' / ''"Mitä Missä Milloin - Kansalaisen vuosikirja 1992"''</ref> The proposal resulted in a modification of immigration laws to this end during the year.

After the [[Soviet Union]] collapsed, Koivisto was against returning [[Karelia (historical province of Finland)|Karelian old Finnish parts]] [[Karelian question|back to Finland]].<ref>[http://www.verkkouutiset.fi/arkisto/Arkisto_1998/23.tammikuu/UKKKAR.HTM Koivisto halusi vaientaa kokonaan keskustelun Karjalan palauttamisesta] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/19980224113243/http://www.verkkouutiset.fi/arkisto/Arkisto_1998/23.tammikuu/UKKKAR.HTM |date=1998-02-24 }}, verkkouutiset 23.1. 1998</ref><ref>[http://www.kainuunsanomat.fi/a/2007/08/15/2496341.shtml Raimo Viirret. Karjala oli kaupan 1991.]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Kainuun Sanomat 15.8.2007.</ref>
[[File:Visit of Mauno Koivisto, President of Finland, to the CEC.jpg|thumb|Koivisto with President of the European Commission [[Jacques Delors]] in Brussels, 29 October 1992]]
In the [[1988 Finnish presidential election|1988 presidential election]], Koivisto was re-elected with 189 out of 301 votes in the electoral college during the second round. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he supported more radical ideals like joining the [[European Union]]. In 1992, Koivisto initiated the process of Finnish accession to the European community. The final terms of the membership agreement were finalised on the day of Koivisto's departure from the presidency. He was succeeded by President [[Martti Ahtisaari]], who was also a supporter of EU membership.

Koivisto's popularity sharply declined during Finland's economic depression of the early 1990s, because many unemployed or otherwise impoverished citizens believed that he could have forced [[Aho Cabinet|the centre-right government]] of [[Esko Aho]] to stimulate the economy and grant unemployed people temporary public sector jobs.<ref name="mmm1992-1993-1994">Koivisto, "Two Terms I". In ''"What Where When - Citizen's Yearbook 1992, 1993, 1994"'' / ''Mitä Missä Milloin'' - Kansalaisen vuosikirja 1992, 1993, 1994"''</ref>

Koivisto's term ended in 1994. Henceforth he published his memoirs in four volumes and continued as a commentator on economics and both domestic and international politics.