List of political parties in Finland: Difference between revisions

Political parties in Finland lists political parties in Finland. Finland has a multi-party system, with three strong parties, in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments.

Political parties represented in the Parliament

The Social Democratic Party of Finland (Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue, SDP) is mostly supported by the urban working class but it also has some support among small farmers, white-collar workers, and professionals. In the 1995 parliamentary elections, SDP gained a plurality in Finland's parliament with 28% of the vote. But as it won far less than an overall majority, a five-party governing coalition was formed, baptized the "rainbow coalition". In the 1999 general election, SDP maintained its plurality with 22.9%, but the Centre Party came in as a near second with 22.4%. The coalition continued with little changes. In the 2007 elections SDP gained 21.4% of the votes and was the third biggest party. For the party this was the worst result since 1960s.

Finland's two other major parties are the Centre Party (Suomen Keskusta), traditionally representing rural interests, and the conservative National Coalition Party (Kansallinen Kokoomus), which draws its major support from the business community and urban professionals. The Centre Party won nearly 20% and the National Coalition Party 18% of the vote in 1995. In the 1999 elections, they won 22.9% and 21% of the vote, respectively. The National Coalition Party was the second-largest party in the SDP-led coalition, which was rounded out by the Swedish People's Party (Svenska Folkpartiet, SFP) and the Green League (Vihreä Liitto), which left the cabinet after the decision to build a fifth nuclear reactor. In 2007 elections the National Coalition Party was the biggest winner gaining 22.3% of the votes. The party was bigger than the SDP for the first time ever. In the same elections, however, the Centre Party remained the biggest, gaining 23.1% of the votes.

The Left Alliance (Vasemmistoliitto), the SDP's rival on the left, gained 11% of the vote in 1995 and joined the SDP-led cabinet. In the 1999 elections it again got 11% of the vote, and remained in cabinet. The Left Alliance was formed in May 1990 and replaced the Finnish People's Democratic League (Suomen Kansan Demokraattinen Liitto, SKDL), a group that represented the Communist Party of Finland (Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue, SKP) in the Parliament. Political activity by Communists was legalized after the Continuation War in 1944.

Registered political parties

Under Finnish law, a political association that fulfils certain conditions may become an officially registered party. A registered party may nominate candidates in all national and local elections, and a party that is represented in parliament is entitled to a government subsidy relative to its number of seats. To qualify as a registered party, an association must have bylaws guaranteeing democratic internal organization and must be able to present 5,000 supporters who are eligible to vote. A party that fails to win a single seat in two consecutive parliamentary elections is stricken from the register but may apply again.

Registered political parties as of 2005 and their leaders:

Parties represented in parliament:

• Centre Party (Suomen Keskusta, KESK): Matti Vanhanen
• Christian Democrats in Finland (Suomen Kristillisdemokraatit, KD): Päivi Räsänen
• Green League (Vihreä Liitto, VIHR): Tarja Cronberg
• Left Alliance (Vasemmistoliitto, VAS): Martti Korhonen
• National Coalition Party (Kansallinen Kokoomus, KOK): Jyrki Katainen
• Social Democratic Party of Finland (Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue, SDP): Eero Heinäluoma
• Swedish People's Party (Svenska Folkpartiet i Finland, SFP): Stefan Wallin
• True Finns (Perussuomalaiset, PS): Timo Soini

Other registered parties:

• Communist Party of Finland (Unity) (Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue, SKP): Yrjö Hakanen
• Eläkeläiset Kansan Asialla (EKA)
• For Peace and Socialism - Communist Workers Party (Rauhan ja sosialismin puolesta - Kommunistinen Työväenpuolue, KTP): Hannu Harju
• Köyhien Asialla (KA): Terttu Savola
• Liberals (Liberaalit, LIB): Ilkka Innamaa
• Muutosvoimat Suomi (MVS): Ilkka Hakalehto
• Suomen Kansan Sinivalkoiset (SKS): Olavi Mäenpää
• Suomi - Isänmaa R.P. (SIRP): Väinö Kuisma
• Vaihtoehtoväki
• Vapaan Suomen Liitto: Ilkka Hakalehto
• Yhteisvastuu puolue (YVP): Taisto Vaetoja

Historical political parties

• Finnish Party (Suomalainen Puolue, SP) 1860s-1918
• Young Finnish Party (Nuorsuomalainen Puolue, NSP) 1870s-1918
• Communist Party of Finland (Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue, SKP) 1918-1990
• National Progressive Party (Kansallinen Edistyspuolue, ED) 1918-1951

Parties in Åland

The autonomous region of Åland has its own party system. These parties are listed in the following table: Template:Åland legislative election, 2003

See also

• Index of political parties to browse parties by name
• List of political parties to browse parties by country
• List of political parties by ideology to browse parties by name
• Membership of internationals to browse parties by membership of internationals
• Political parties in Åland.
• Parliament of Finland
• Government of Finland
• President of Finland
• Elections in Finland