NickGeer
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The text is the Finnish version of "A watched pot never boils"
I find this picture collage quite funny. It's about Paavo Väyrynen aka King Pavel I, the man who has been in Finnish politics pretty much since 1970 starting under the cabinet of Ahti Karjalainen all the way until 2015. The man who made an assumption in his doctoral thesis in 1988 that the Soviet Union would prevail.
At age 25 he was chosen as the Vice Chairman of the Center Party. Trustee to President Kekkonen and fierce defender of his policies. Became the Chairman of Center Party in 1980 defeating ex-Prime Minister Johannes Virolainen in the progress.
Tried to challenge SDP President Koivisto in 1988 but lost in the first round. Resigned Chairmanship in 1990 but lead the party in a historic victory in Parliamentary elections of 1991. He had the most votes in the whole nation.
Wast the presidential candidate of Center party in 1994 but lost to Elizabeth Rehn by a mere margin, who was close to becoming the 1st Female President of Finland but barely lost to Ahtisaari.
Left Finnish politics in 1996 to join European Parliament ( He is a huge EU critic), later tried a comeback to Finnish politics in 1999 but lost Center party presidential primaries against his successor Esko Aho. Was defeated again in 2002. Was re-elected to the European Parliament in 2004 after failure in 2003 parliamentary elections. Came back to Finnish parliament in 2007. Tried to take back the party chairmanship in 2010 but finished fourth and blamed the "media game" on his loss, which was his usual phrase when he lost. Lost his seat in parliament in 2010, after this everyone thought his career as a politician was finally over.
Managed to become the Presidential candidate for Center in 2012 elections after Center party had suffered a heavy loss in 2010 elections and all the major players were out, mostly due to some scandals from previous years. Placed 3rd after Haavisto by a close margin of 1.3 percentage points. Tried for Party chairmanship the same summer but placed 3rd.
Was elected to EU Parliament in 2014 and returned there. Was elected to Finnish Parliament in 2015 but chose to stay in EU unless he was given cabinet position.
Same year launched a citizens' initiative to organize a referendum on whether Finland should remain in the eurozone.
Announced his resignment from all Center party positions in 2016 because he was no longer able to affect the decision-making process and he didn't like Sipilä's liberal policies.
Founded a new party the same year called Citizen's Party, left the chairmanship in 2017.
Is running against President Sauli Niinistö, Pekka Haavisto (Greens) as independent.
Will he finally take what he has wanted for so long? Or will 2012 Presidential Elections repeat itself?
Well, we shall see on this upcoming Sunday.
tl;dr Guy is in the politics since 70's, was successful once but ever since always looses and blames media or someone else, might actually have a chance this year.