Stubb's booze find offers a glimpse into Kekkonen's Finland
The president's basement rummage offers a glimpse into an era when politics and alcohol often went hand in hand.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb recently made an intriguing discovery in the potato cellar at Kultaranta, the traditional summer residence of Finnish presidents. Stubb stumbled upon a crate containing spirits dating back to the time of his predecessor, Urho Kekkonen, who held office from 1956 to 1982. However, Stubb abstained from consuming the contents, opting instead to return the bottles to the cellar to preserve them for posterity.
Sociology professor Pertti Alasuutari from the University of Tampere described the find as "delightful," pondering whether the bottles may have been Kekkonen's official drinks or a personal stash for other occasions. Alasuutari posited that Kekkonen might have kept such a supply handy for when he would occasionally leave Kultaranta to visit a nearby neighbor.
The professor explained that alcohol played a significant role in Finnish politics during the 1950s and 1960s, noting that Kekkonen himself had advised politicians and generals not to negotiate with Soviet counterparts before participating in a sauna session. Building friendships with various individuals was crucial to Kekkonen, and alcohol was often instrumental in forging these connections.
Alasuutari also mentioned that the political culture of the time was markedly different from today, with ample food and generous consumption of alcohol being commonplace.
Written by urgent.news from Yle News Finland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
