Page "Urho Kekkonen" Paragraph 29

According to biographer Juhani Suomi, Kekkonen gave no thought to resigning until his physical condition began to decline in July 1981.

The 80-year-old President then began to seriously consider resigning, most likely in early 1982.

Prime Minister Mauno Koivisto finally defeated Kekkonen in 1981.

In April, Koivisto had done what no one else had dared to during Kekkonen's presidency by stating that under the constitution, the prime minister and cabinet were responsible to Parliament not to the President.

He then refused to resign at Kekkonen's request.

Historians and journalists debate the precise meaning of this dispute.