Too 'red' for May Day?

The temporary lay-off of Eino S. Repo in 1972 is discussed in this recording provided by Yle's Elävä arkisto ('Living Archive').

In June 1972 the head of radio, Eino S. Repo, was laid off from his duties for six months. Repo was accused of promoting blasphemy and airing overly leftist May Day programmes. Repo was thought to have made political statements in the name of Yleisradio. The decision was also justified by a long-standing lack of confidence in Repo. The interviews in the recording reveal that by no means all of the members of the Board of Directors stood by the decision.

By Written by Tomas Sjöblom. Translated by Johanna Spoof. Revised by John Calton.

Eino Repo

Eino Sakari Repo
Born September 6, 1919, Isokyrö. Died December 16, 2002, Helsinki.

Master of Arts (Literature), 1948, University of Helsinki

Head of Radio, 1970-74, Finnish Broadcasting Company
Director General, 1965-69, Finnish Broadcasting Company
Head of Production, 1964-65, Commercial Television
Literary journalist, 1958-64, Apu magazine
Freelance journalist 1948-56, Parnasso journal, Suomalainen Suomi, Finnish Broadcasting Company

Chairman, Eino Leino Society, 1957-64

Photo: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura
Written by Tomas Sjöblom
Translated by John Calton