Sorsa biography

Taisto Kalevi Sorsa 21 December — 16 January was a Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland three times: —, — and — At the time of his death he still held the record for most days of incumbency as Finnish prime minister. Taisto Kalevi Sorsa was born on 21 December in Keuruu. Sorsa's surname literally means " anatid " in Finnish. In the late s, he also served as an official in the Ministry of Education.

In , he was brought in from relative obscurity by Rafael Paasio , a former Prime Minister of Finland , to assume the influential post of party secretary, despite not having much experience of national politics. Korvenheimo , there is no proof that the Soviets would have at this point particularly supported Sorsa. Sorsa was a leading political figure during the presidencies of Kekkonen and Koivisto.

He remains Finland's longest-serving prime minister.

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After his premiership he served as the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament from to During his career he also served twice as Deputy Prime Minister , from to and from to Sorsa is regarded as one of Finland's most influential prime ministers, making major contributions to schools and health care, and increasing social security for families with children and pensioners.

His governments strengthened the welfare state in Finland, by enacting many reforms—child care laws, longer maternity leave, the annual vacation benefit act, as well as the public health act. Another notable conflict was his rivalry with young rising politician Paavo Lipponen. In June , Sorsa gave a speech on "infocracy" i.