Juho Kusti Paasikivi vs Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Paasikivi became Prime Minister of Finland in November 1944, succeeding the wartime government. He led the country through the final months of World War II and the transition to peace, overseeing the implementation of the Moscow Armistice terms.

As Prime Minister, Paasikivi led the Finnish delegation in negotiations for the Moscow Armistice in September 1944. The armistice ended the Continuation War with the Soviet Union, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Finland.

Paasikivi was elected President of Finland in March 1946, succeeding Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim. He served until 1956, guiding Finland's post-war foreign policy of neutrality and cooperation with the Soviet Union.

Paasikivi developed and implemented the Paasikivi Line, a foreign policy doctrine emphasizing friendly relations with the Soviet Union while preserving Finnish independence. This approach shaped Finnish foreign policy for decades.

Paasikivi signed the YYA Treaty with the Soviet Union in April 1948. This agreement defined Finnish-Soviet relations during the Cold War, committing Finland to resist attacks through Finnish territory while maintaining neutrality.

Tharman served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019 and as Minister for Finance from 2007 to 2015. He oversaw Singapore's economic policies, including the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and social spending initiatives.

Tharman was appointed Chairman of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) of the IMF in 2011, serving until 2014. He played a key role in global economic governance and reform of the international financial system.

Tharman Shanmugaratnam was elected as the 9th President of Singapore on September 1, 2023, winning over 70% of the vote. He ran as an independent candidate, focusing on national unity and social issues.