K. J. Ståhlberg, who served as Finland's first president from 1919 to 1925, and his wife, Ester Ståhlberg, became targets of intimidation when the far-right Lapua Movement, active in Finland during the late 1920s and early 1930s, kidnapped the couple from their residence in Helsinki. The Lapua Movement arose in response to what they perceived as the threats posed by leftist political groups and communism, growing increasingly violent in their tactics. This incident highlighted the extreme measures some groups were willing to take to counter perceived political adversaries.

The Ståhlbergs were taken from their home as part of the Movement's campaign to showcase their own power and assert pressure on the Finnish government, which they felt was moving too far in a liberal or leftist direction. Within the context of the political climate of Finland at the time, characterized by considerable turmoil and unrest, the kidnapping of such prominent political figures added an unsettling element to the national discourse. Although the Ståhlbergs were eventually released unharmed, the kidnapping represented a critical juncture in Finnish politics, exposing the risks faced by political leaders and the extent of far-right extremism prevalent in that era.

Following this event, political tensions heightened, leading to increased governmental and public scrutiny of the Lapua Movement and its motives. This incident not only affected the immediate political climate but also influenced public perception of right-wing politics in Finland, contributing to shifts in political alignment and the eventual responses from other parties to counteract radical ideologies. The kidnapping ultimately foreshadowed a growing trend of political violence and radical actions in the lead-up to more significant conflicts in Finland, including the civil war a few years later.