Arvo Aalto (born 13 July 1932) is a Finnish politician who headed the

Communist Party A communist party is a political party that seeks to realize the socio-economic goals of communism. The term ''communist party'' was popularized by the title of ''The Manifesto of the Communist Party'' (1848) by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. A ...

between 1984 and 1988. He also served as the labour minister from 1977 and 1981.

Early life and education

Aalto was born in

Rovaniemi Rovaniemi ( , ; sme, Roavvenjárga ; smn, Ruávinjargâ; sms, Ruäʹvnjargg) is a city and municipality of Finland. It is the administrative capital and commercial centre of Finland's northernmost province, Lapland, and its southern part Per� ...

on 13 July 1932. He graduated from Sirola college in 1956 and also, received education at Moscow Party School in the period 1961–1962.

Career

Aalto joined the Communist Party in 1951. He was its secretary in

Lapland Lapland may refer to: Places *Lapland or Sápmi, an ethno-cultural region stretching over northern Fennoscandia (parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia) **Lapland (Finland) (''Lappi''/''Lappland''), a Finnish region *** Lapland (former pr ...

in 1956. He was elected as the general secretary of the party in 1969 replacing

Ville Pessi Ville Pessi (24 March 1902, Kaukola – 6 November 1983, Vantaa) was a Finnish politician. Pessi hailed from a proletarian family. He became involved in leftist politics in 1919. He joined the Communist Party of Finland (SKP) in 1924, when it wa ...

in the post. Aalto served in the post until 1984 with some interruptions. Aalto was the minister of labour from 1977 to 1981. In June 1984 he was elected as the chairman of the Communist Party obtaining 183 votes against 163 votes in favor of the former chairman

Jouko Kajanoja Jouko Kajanoja (born 1942) is a Finnish economist and politician who served as minister of labour between 1981 and 1982. He was a member of the Communist Party which he headed from 1982 to 1984. Biography Kajanoja was born in 1942. He joined the ...

. During his tenure Aalto visited China in January 1987 becoming the highest ranking Finnish communist to visit China in more than 20 years. Aalto headed the party until 1988.

Personal life and views

Aalto has two daughters. While serving as the chairman of the Communist Party he was not so close to the Soviet Communist Party. He does not support the

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

membership of Finland.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Aalto, Arvo 1932 births Living people Communist Party of Finland politicians Ministers of Labour of Finland People from Rovaniemi Leaders of political parties in Finland