Christian Democrats (Finland)

When the Christian Democrats was founded in 1958, as the name Finnish Christian League, the communist-dominated Finnish People's Democratic League was polling about 25 per cent and became the largest parliamentary grouping. That, together with lax alcohol laws, salacious publications and assistance from the Norwegian KrF, sparked the Christian initiative.[10]

The 1960s were an 'incubation period', but there was a growing conviction of the need for parliamentary seats in the wake of liberal legislation. At the 'earthquake election' of 1970, after four years of Popular front government, the CD had a solitary Raino Westerholm elected. Westerholm was a party chair between 1973 and 1982. Westerholm polled a creditable 8.8 per cent at the 1978 presidential election. The modest 'Westerholm effect' was a backlash for long-serving Urho Kekkonen, who was backed by all of the larger parties.[11]

The party was a junior coalition partner in government from 1991 to 1995, when it occupied the development aid portfolio. It was a soft Eurosceptic party and stressed the importance of the principle of subsidiarity in European affairs. After being renamed The Christian Democrats in 2001, it moved to a pro-European stance.[10] Bjarne Kallis, the party chairman between 1995 and 2004, was instrumental in the party's change of name and concern to attract a wider electorate, being able to draw votes from the Swedish People's Party and Finnish-speaking Conservative and Centre voters.[11]

At the 2003 general election, the Christian Democrats polled its highest vote of 5.3%.[12]

English-speaking members of the party founded their own chapter in Helsinki in 2004. Its monthly meetings attract immigrants to participate in societal matters and the issues that are particularly important to them. In 2005, a Russian-speaking chapter was also founded in Helsinki, Finland.[13]

The party describes itself as following the tenets of Christian democracy. It emphasizes "respect of human dignity, the importance of family and close communities, defending the weak, encouraging resourcefulness and individual and collective responsibility, not just for themselves but also for their neighbours and the rest of creation". Membership is open to everyone who agrees with these values and aims.[6] The party also claims to be committed to environmental protection.[14] It is also orientated towards socially conservative policies.[9]

1972 Finnish parliamentary election campaign event of the Finnish Christian League in 1971

Parliamentary election 1972 campaign event of Finnish Christian League at 1971.

• Erävalo, Esa (2018). Yhteinen hyvä. ISBN 978-952-7289-03-7. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
• Vakaumuksena välittäminen - Med hjärta i politiken. 2008. ISBN 978-952-67038-0-0. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

• Christian Democratic Youth of Finland Finnish: Suomen Kristillisdemokraattiset Nuoret Swedish: Finlands Kristdemokratiska Unga
• Christian Democratic Women of Finland Finnish: Suomen Kristillisdemokraattiset Naiset Swedish: Finlands Kristdemokratiska Kvinnor
• KD News Finnish: KD-Lehti
• Kompassi Think Tank Finnish: Ajatushautomo Kompassi

• Government of Finland
• Parliament of Finland
• Elections in Finland
• European People's Party
• Christian Democrats – similar party in Sweden
• Christian Democratic Party – similar party in Norway
• Nordic model

• Freston, Paul (2004). Protestant Political Parties. ISBN 0-7546-4062-0. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
• Madeley, John T.S. (2004). Steven Van Hecke; Emmanuel Gerard (eds.). Life at the Northern Margin: Christian Democracy in Scandinavia. pp. 217–241. ISBN 90-5867-377-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

• Official website (in Finnish)
• Website in English