This article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in Finland. It is limited to liberal and centristparties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it is not necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.
Liberalism was a major force in Finland since 1894. After independence the current gradually decreased. A major other force, agrarianism, choose in 1965 to develop itself into a more centrist current. The liberal character of the Finnish Center (Suomen Keskusta), member of LI and ELDR, is based on liberal ideas like decentralization, peasant-like freedom and progressivism.[1] The Swedish minority party Swedish People's Party (Svenska Folkpartiet i Finland) is also a member of LI, ELDR. The original liberal current is now organized in the Liberals (Liberaalit), a very small extra-parliamentary party. At the autonomous island of Åland the Liberals for Åland (Liberalerna på Åland) are a dominant force.
The timeline
This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (April 2017)
Liberal Club / Liberal Party
1877: Liberals formed the Liberal Club (Liberaalinen Klubi), renamed in 1880 Liberal Party (Liberaalinen Puolue)[2]
1882: The Liberal Party disappeared
From Young Finnish Party to Liberals
1894: Constitutionalist fennomans organized into the Young Finnish faction within the Finnish Party (Nuorsuomalainen Puolue)
1905: The Young Finnish Party secedes from the Finnish Party.
1918: The Republican factions of the two Finnish parties reorganise into the Progressive Party (Kansallinen Edistyspuolue)
1951: The Progressive Party falls apart into the Finnish People's Party (Suomen Kansanpuolue) and the ⇒ Free-minded League (Vapaamielisten liitto)
1965: The People's Party and the ⇒ Free-minded League reunite into the Liberal People's Party (Liberaalinen Kansanpuolue)
1982: The Liberal People's Party associated itself with the ⇒ Centre Party, whilst some liberal youth activists join the Greens.
1983: The Liberal People's Party loses all of seats in the Parliament for the first time.
1986: The Liberal People's Party disassociated itself from the ⇒ Centre Party
1991: The Liberal People's Party returns to parliament with one MP.
1995: The Liberal People's Party loses its only MP.
2000: The Liberal People's Party renames itself Liberals (Liberaalit)
2007: Removed from the party registry after failing to get a seat in two consecutive parliamentary elections
