Christian Democrats (Finland)

Christian Democrats
Finnish name Kristillisdemokraatit
Swedish name Kristdemokraterna
Leader Sari Essayah
Founded 1958
Headquarters Karjalankatu 2 C 7 krs.
FIN - 00520 HELSINKI
Newspaper KD-lehti
Membership  (2011) 13,000[1]
Ideology Christian democracy[2]
Social conservatism
Political position Centre to centre-right
European affiliation European People's Party (observer)
International affiliation Centrist Democrat International
Colours Blue and orange
Parliament
5 / 200
European Parliament
0 / 13
Municipalities
300 / 9,674
Website
www.kristillisdemokraatit.fi

The Christian Democrats (Finnish: Kristillisdemokraatit, KD; Swedish: Kristdemokraterna) is a Christian democratic political party in Finland. The Christian Democrats have five seats in the Finnish Parliament. The party was represented in the Finnish government by Minister of Interior Päivi Räsänen from June 22, 2011 until May 29, 2015.

The party was founded in 1958, chiefly by the Christian faction of the National Coalition Party, as the Finnish Christian League (Suomen Kristillinen Liitto, SKL; Finlands Kristliga Förbund.) The party adopted its current name in 2001.

Ideology

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.[2] The party also claims to be committed to environmental protection.[3]

The party has lost many of its members to bigger parties, mainly to the National Coalition and Center Party. KD MP Lyly Rajala and MEP Eija-Riitta Korhola defected to the National Coalition in 2003, and the former party secretary Annika Kokko moved to the National Coalition in 2007.

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.[4]

The party is an observer member of the European People's Party (EPP.)

KD-lehti (English: CD News) is the party's weekly newspaper.

Politicians

List of party chairs

Current members of parliament

[5]

European Parliament

Sari Essayah was the most recent MEP of the party; she was elected to the European Parliament in the 2009 election but failed to win re-election in 2014.

Election results

Parliament elections

Year MPs Votes Share of votes
1958 0 3,358 0.17%
1966 0 10,646 0.45%
1970 1 28,228 1.40%
1972 4 65,228 2.53%
1975 9 90,599 3.29%
1979 9 138,244 4.77%
1983 3 90,410 3.03%
1987 5 74,209 2.58%
1991 8 83,151 3.05%
1995 7 82,311 2.96%
1999 10 111,835 4.17%
2003 7 148,987 5.34%
2007 7 134,643 4.86%
2011 6 118,453 4.03%
2015 5 105,134 3.54%

Local council elections

Year Councillors Votes Share of votes
1972 134 49,877 2.0%
1976 322 85,792 3.2%
1980 333 100,800 3.7%
1984 257 80,455 3.0%
1988 273 71,614 2.72%
1992 353 84,481 3.2%
1996 353 75,494 3.2%
2000 443 95,009 4.3%
2004 392 94,666 4.0%
2008 351 106,639 4.2%

European parliamentary elections

Year MEPs Votes Share of votes
1996 0 63,134 2.8%
1999 1 29,637 2.4%
2004 0 70,845 4.3%
2009 1 69 467 4.2%
2014 0 90 586 5.2%

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Niemelä, Mikko (13 March 2011). "Perussuomalaisilla hurja tahti: "Jäseniä tulee ovista ja ikkunoista"". Kauppalehti. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 Christian Democracy. Christian Democrats official website
  3. ↑ Environment and Energy. Christian Democrats
  4. ↑ Immigrants. Christian Democrats
  5. ↑ "Candidates elected". Ministry of Justice. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.

External links

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