List of political parties in Finland

   

This is an list of Political Parties in Finland.

Major political parties

The Social Democratic Party of Finland (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, the SDP maintained its plurality with 22.9%, but the Center party came in as a near second with 22.4%. The coalition continued with little changes.

The Leftist Alliance (LA), 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 LA was formed in May 1990 and replaced the People's Democratic League, the group that represented the Finnish Communist Party in the Eduskunta. Political activity by Communists was legalized after the Continuation War in 1944.

Finland's two other major parties are the Center Party (Keskusta), traditionally representing rural interests, and the Conservative National Coalition (Kokoomus), which draws its major support from the business community and urban professionals. The Center won nearly 20% and the Conservatives 18% of the vote in 1995. In the 1995 elections, they won 22.9% and 21% of the vote, respectively. The Conservatives were the second-largest party in the SDP-led coalition, which is rounded out by the Swedish People's Party and the Green League (which left the Rainbow-coalition after the decision to build a fifth nuclear reactor).

Commonly used Party abbreviations

Registered political parties

Registered political parties as of May 2004 and their leaders

  • Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (SDP): Paavo Lipponen
  • Suomen Keskusta (KESK): Matti Vanhanen
  • Kansallinen Kokoomus (KOK): Jyrki Katainen
  • Svenska folkpartiet i Finland (SFP): Jan-Erik Enestam
  • Suomen Maaseudun Puolue (SMP)
  • Suomen Kristillisdemokraatit (KD): Bjarne Kallis
  • Kirjava "Puolue" - Elonkehän Puolesta (KIPU)
  • Vihreä liitto (VIHR): Osmo Soininvaara
  • Vasemmistoliitto (VAS): Suvi-Anne Siimes
  • Perussuomalaiset (PS): Timo Soini
  • Eläkeläiset Kansan Asialla (EKA)
  • Kommunistinen Työväenpuolue (KTP): Hannu Harju
  • Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue (SKP): Yrjö Hakanen
  • Vaihtoehtoväki
  • Vapaan Suomen Liitto: Ilkka Hakalehto
  • Liberaalit (LIB): Tomi Riihimäki
  • Muutosvoimat Suomi (MVS): Ilkka Hakalehto
  • Köyhien Asialla (KA): Terttu Savola
  • Yhteisvastuu puolue (YVP): Taisto Vaetoja
  • Suomi - Isänmaa R.P. (SIRP): Väinö Kuisma
  • Suomen Kansan Sinivalkoiset (SKS): Olavi Mäenpää

Former parties

See also


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