Kekkonen Back In Presidency

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29724, 18 January 1962, Page 13

Kekkonen Back In Presidency

(N Z-P-A.-Reuter—Copyright)

HELSINKI, January 17.

President Urho Kekkonen of Finland had a clear victory in the first stage of the Presidential,election when results were announced in Helsinki early today.

He gamed 145 seats m the 300-seat Electoral College, which is expected to re-elect him on the first ballot in the

second stage of the election on February 15. His nearest rival, Mr Paavo Aitio (Communist) had 64 electors. Mr Rafael Paasio (Social Democratic Party) had 36 and Mr Emil Skog (Social Demo cratic Opposition) two. Three other parties—tht Conservatives. Swedish Popu lar and Finnish Popula: Party—mustered 53 electors including many pledged to vote for Mr Kekkonen.

There was a record 78 per cent poll from the 2,750.000 electorate.

Durmg the Russian-Finnish crisis last November over Russia’s Note asking for military consultations on the grounds of a West German threat of attack, the Soviet leaders made it clear that they did not want any change in the Finnish leadership. Most Finns regarded that as an indication that Mr Kekkonen should be reelected. and a big victory was expected.

(Kekkonen Profile, page 18.)