1940 Finnish presidential election

none 1940 Finnish presidential election Finland presidential no 1937 Finnish presidential election 1937 1943 Finnish presidential election 1943 19 December 1940 x160px|Risto Ryti Risto Ryti National Progressive Party (Finland) FFFF00 288 x160px|Johan Helo Johan Helo Social Democratic Party of Finland 4 President Kyösti Kallio Agrarian League (Finland) Risto Ryti National Progressive Party (Finland)thumb|right|The presidential elections taking place Early and indirect presidential elections were held in Finland in 1940 after President Kyösti Kallio resigned on 27 November following a stroke on 27 August. The 1937 electoral college was recalled and elected Prime Minister Risto Ryti, who received 288 of the 300 votes.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p628 978-3-8329-5609-7 Most other Finnish politicians considered Ryti a principled, unselfish, intelligent and patriotic man, who could lead Finland effectively enough during World War II. His leadership qualities had been tested already during the Winter War (November 1939–March 1940). Also the outgoing President Kallio considered him the best available presidential candidate. In early December 1940, the Soviet Foreign Minister, Vyacheslav Molotov, interfered with the Finnish presidential elections by claiming to the Finnish Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Juho Kusti Paasikivi, that if potential presidential candidates such as Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, former President Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, or former Prime Minister Toivo Mikael Kivimäki were elected President, the Soviet government would consider Finland unwilling to fulfill its peace treaty with the Soviet Union. Due to the lingering threat of another war and the Karelian refugees' dispersal throughout Finland, regular presidential elections were cancelled, and instead the 1937 presidential electors were summoned to elect the President. Under these tense political circumstances, Ryti had no problem winning these exceptional presidential elections by a landslide.Antti Laine WSOY 2003 Suomen historian pikkujättiläinen (A Small Giant of the Finnish History) Helsinki 705-707 Finland At War Suomi sodassa Zetterberg SeppoPentti Virrankoski fi A History of Finland Suomen historia 1,2 9522221600 Finnish Literature Society 2009 898 The same day, former president Kallio died. Results thumb|Risto Ryti enters office as President of Finland in Helsinki 21.12.1940 Risto Ryti National Progressive Party 288 Johan Helo Social Democratic Party 4 Pehr Evind Svinhufvud National Coalition Party 1 Toivo Mikael Kivimäki National Progressive Party 1 6 Nohlen & Stöver References Category:Presidential elections in Finland President