Mauno Koivisto, who as Finland’s last president during the Cold War steered the country out of isolation and into the European Union, died on Friday in Helsinki. He was 93.

The Finnish president’s office announced his death. His wife, Tellervo Koivisto, said this year that he had Alzheimer’s disease.

Mr. Koivisto served two six-year terms, from 1982 to 1994. His down-to-earth manner and dry humor, often laced with sarcasm and philosophical pondering, won him wide popularity.

He succeeded Urho Kekkonen, who had ruled Finland for 25 years until his resignation in 1981. Mr. Koivisto was seen as ushering in a new, freer era, changing the face of the country by reducing the powers of the head of state and strengthening the role of Parliament.