Väinö Leskinen

Leskinen was a key member in the union of brother's in arms movement which operated among the Social Democrats after the war.

In the 1950s the fragmented Social Democratic Party was led by Väinö Tanner as figurehead while Leskinen was considered as one of the most important leaders.

Leskinen sought to offset the relations with the Soviet Union following the defeat of SDP in the 1962 parliamentary election.

In 1966, Leskinen visited Moscow in an effort to re-establish relations with the Communist Party of Soviet Union.

Väinö Leskinen died of a heart attack on his 55th birthday while skiing near Lauttasaari in Helsinki.