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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.
The parties - The general rule on naming applies. That means: the parties are named in the English translation and the original native name is placed on the first line of the article unless the native form is more commonly used in English than the English form. Rationale and specifics: See: Wikipedia:Naming conventions (use English).
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 Centre Party of Finland (Keskusta)', traditionally representing rural interests, and the Conservative National Coalition (Kansallinen 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).
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 - ED = Kansallinen Edistyspuolue (National Progressive Party, liberal 1918-51);
- IKL = Isänmaallinen Kansanliike (Patriotic People's Movement, fascist ex-Lapua 1932-44);
- KP = Kansanpuolue (Finnish People's Party, 1917-18, 1951-65, merged with VL as LKP);
- LKP = Liberaalinen Kansanpuolue (Liberal People's Party, 1965-2001, renamed 2001 LIB);
- LM = Lapua Movement (fascist, 1929-32);
- ML = Agrarian League (1906-65, renamed 1965 KESK);
- NSP = Nuorsuomalainen puolue (Young Finnish Party 1902-1918, succeded by Kansallinen Edistyspuolue)
- SKDL = Finnish People's Democratic League (communists and socialists, 1944-90);
- SKL = Finnish Christian League (renamed KD 2001);
- SKP = Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue (Communist Party of Finland 1918-90, merged with SKDL into VAS);
- SMP = Finnish Agrarian Party (1959-95);
- SP = Suomalainen puolue (Finnish Party 1863 - 1918, succeded by National Coalition Party)
- VL = Vapaamielisten Liitto Liberal League (liberal, 1951-65, merged with KP as LKP)
See also - See also Political parties in Åland.
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