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The Left Alliance (Finnish: Vasemmistoliitto [??ɑsem?isto?li?t?o], Vas; Swedish: V?nsterf?rbundet, VF) is a left-wing[11] political party in Finland.[12]
 | |
| Abbreviation | Finnish: Vas Swedish: VF |
| Chairperson | Minja Koskela |
| Secretary | Anna M?kip??[1] |
| Parliamentary group leader | Aino-Kaisa Pekonen |
| First deputy chair | Veronika Honkasalo |
| Chair of the party council | Miikka Kortelainen |
| Founder | Claes Andersson |
| Founded | 29 April 1990 |
| Merger of | |
| Headquarters | Lintulahdenkatu 10, 00500 Helsinki |
| Newspaper | Kansan Uutiset |
| Think tank | Vasemmistofoorumi |
| Student wing | Vasemmisto-opiskelijat |
| Youth wing | Left Youth (unofficially) |
| Women's wing | Vasemmistonaiset[2] |
| Children's wing | Pinskut |
| Membership (2020) |  11,500[3] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Left-wing[7] |
| European affiliation | European Left Alliance for the People and the Planet Now the People ![8] |
| European Parliament group | The Left in the European Parliament |
| Nordic affiliation | Nordic Green Left Alliance |
| Colours | Pink |
| Eduskunta | 11 / 200 |
| European Parliament | 3 / 15 |
| Municipalities | 536 / 8,586 |
| County seats | 117 / 1,379 |
| Website | |
| vasemmisto.fi | |
The Left Alliance was founded in 1990 as the chief successor of the left-wing Finnish People's Democratic League (SKDL). Although not as electorally successful as the SKDL, it has achieved some success, typically receiving around eight to ten percent of the vote in parliamentary elections. It has participated in five cabinets, most recently in the Marin Cabinet from 2019 to 2023. It is socialist,[13][14] specifically democratically socialist,[15] and it supports the principles of eco-socialism.[16][17]
The Left Alliance is a member of the Nordic Green Left Alliance. The party's newspaper is the monthly Kansan Uutiset. It had two ministerial positions in the Marin cabinet, Li Andersson as Minister of Education[18] and Hanna Sarkkinen as Minister of Social Affairs and Health.[19] It is also a part of the European Left Alliance for the People and the Planet, a pan-European party that supports an alternative to capitalism.[20]
History
editThe Left Alliance was founded by the Finnish People's Democratic League (SKDL), the majority of members of the waning Communist Party of Finland (SKP) and the Finnish Women's Democratic League (SNDL). It was later joined by the communist Democratic Alternative. The founding meeting was held in April 1990 in Helsinki, following the publishing of the April Declaration, which stated the party's ideals.
The party's history has been characterised via internal disputes and bickering, as it was formed by people with very different views on society. There have been several defections from the Left Alliance to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Communist Party of Finland. In 2005, the party's former secretary and Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions's assistant head Matti Viialainen formed a group to promote a merger between the two largest Finnish left-wing political parties, the Left Alliance and the SDP. This caused an outrage within the Left Alliance, and Viialainen was condemned for wanting to break up the party. Viialainen subsequently left the party and ran for parliament on the SDP's ticket in 2007.[21]
In 2006, the party's leader Suvi-Anne Siimes announced her resignation from the post and the party as a result of long-standing feuds with the leftist section of the party. On 13 May 2006, Martti Korhonen was elected as the new party leader. He was followed by Paavo Arhinm?ki in June 2009, following the party's bad performance in the 2009 EU parliamentary election, in which the party lost its only seat.
In the 2011 election, the party won 14 seats and became a partner in the six-party "rainbow" cabinet. The decision to join the government created a split in the party, leading to the expulsion of two MPs from the parliamentary group. In 2014, the Left Alliance left the cabinet over a dispute on a package of spending cuts and tax hikes.[22] In 2014 European Parliament election, the party regained their lost seat.
In the 2015 parliamentary election, the party received 211,615 votes, 7.1% of the total, and won 12 seats in the parliament.[23] In April 2016, Arhinm?ki announced that he wouldn't seek another term as the party leader.[24] On 11 June 2016, Arhinm?ki was succeeded by Li Andersson.[25] Under the leadership of Andersson, the party gained support in the 2017 municipal elections and the 2019 parliamentary election, in the latter, the party increased its representation in the parliament for the first time since 1995.[26][27]
In the 2023 Finnish parliamentary election, the Left Alliance suffered its worst defeat ever, losing five seats, reducing the party to 11 MPs.[28] However, in the next year's European Parliament elections, the Left Alliance finished a surprising second, ahead of the Social Democrats, and elected three MEPs, including party leader Li Andersson.[29] Prior to the election, polls had shown the party to be in fourth place.[30] Andersson herself received the most votes of any Finnish politician in European election history.[31]
On 19 October 2024, Andersson was succeeded as party leader by Minja Koskela.[32] In the 2025 Finnish county election, the Left Alliance came in third nationwide. In the municipal election held on the same day, the party placed fourth. It had higher support in both elections when compared to the results of the previous corresponding elections. The party notably surpassed the Finns Party in support in both elections.[33] Yle reported that the results may signify an ideological shift to the left in Finland.[34]
Ideology and policies
edit
According to the Left Alliance's party programme, adopted by the 5th Party Congress on 16 June 2007, the fundamental values of the Left Alliance are equality, freedom, sustainable development, and democracy. The party believes that globally, democracy must be strengthened, and that democracy should be stronger than the power of capital, challenging global capitalism. Important values also include global solidarity, stopping political polarisation in Finland, freedom and the right to work, and environmentalism.[35] The party is for equality in all its forms and identifies strongly as feminist, anti-racist and is in support of economic democracy. The party has been defined from the outside as social democratic.[5] The party supports introducing a universal basic income[36] and prioritizes supporting the weakest members of society.
The Left Alliance wants the European Union to be more socially just.[35] The party endorses the European Green Deal via changing the European Central Bank's financial sector's quantitative easing stimulus into a green stimulus to mitigate global warming and create green-collar jobs.[35][37]
The party has traditionally been one of the staunch opponents of a Finnish NATO membership accession.[38] After Finland considered an accession bid to NATO in May 2022, the party was in doubt whether to officially support an eventual NATO membership but assured that it would stay in the Marin cabinet in the case it made one.[39] During its annual party congress in June 2022, the Left Alliance adapted its party program and now only demands an eventual NATO membership to remain defensive, with no permanent NATO military bases or nuclear weapons within the country.[38] It also demanded the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to be taken off the European Union's list of terrorist organisations.[40][41][42][43] The party wants Finland to recognise Palestine and stop Finland's arms trade with Israel.[44]
Organization
editLogos
edit-
Logo of the Left Alliance in 1996. -
Former logo of the Left Alliance. -
Logo of the Left Alliance from 2010–2018. -
Logo of the Left Alliance since 2018.
Chairpersons
edit- Claes Andersson (1990–1998)
- Suvi-Anne Siimes (1998–2006)
- Martti Korhonen (2006–2009)
- Paavo Arhinm?ki (2009–2016)
- Li Andersson (2016–2024)
- Minja Koskela (2024–present)
Election results
editParliamentary elections
edit
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 274,639 | 10.08 | 19 / 200
|
New | Opposition |
| 1995 | 310,340 | 11.16 | 22 / 200
|
3
|
Coalition |
| 1999 | 291,675 | 10.88 | 20 / 200
|
 2
|
Coalition |
| 2003 | 277,152 | 9.93 | 19 / 200
|
1
|
Opposition |
| 2007 | 244,296 | 8.82 | 17 / 200
|
2
|
Opposition |
| 2011 | 238,437 | 8.15 | 14 / 200
|
3
|
Coalition (2011–2014) |
| Opposition (2014–2015) | |||||
| 2015 | 211,702 | 7.13 | 12 / 200
|
2
|
Opposition |
| 2019 | 251,808 | 8.20 | 16 / 200
|
4
|
Coalition |
| 2023 | 218,340 | 7.06 | 11 / 200
|
5
|
Opposition |
Municipal elections
edit| Election | Councillors | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1,319 | 310,757 | 11.67 |
| 1996 | 1,128 | 246,597 | 10.37 |
| 2000 | 1,027 | 219,671 | 9.88 |
| 2004 | 987 | 228,358 | 9.56 |
| 2008 | 833 | 224,170 | 8.78 |
| 2012 | 640 | 199,312 | 8.0 |
| 2017 | 658 | 226,626 | 8.8 |
| 2021 | 508 | 194,385 | 7.9 |
| 2025 | 536 | 224,005 | 9.3 |
European Parliament
edit| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 236,490 | 10.51 (#4) | 2 / 16
|
New | The Left |
| 1999 | 112,757 | 9.08 (#5) | 1 / 16
|
1
| |
| 2004 | 151,291 | 9.13 (#5) | 1 / 14
|
 0
| |
| 2009 | 98,690 | 5.93 (#7) | 0 / 13
|
1
|
– |
| 2014 | 160,818 | 9.32 (#6) | 1 / 13
|
1
|
The Left |
| 2019 | 125,749 | 6.89 (#6) | 1 / 13
|
0
| |
| 2024 | 316,859 | 17.32 (#2) | 3 / 15
|
2
|
Presidential elections
edit| Election | Candidate | 1st round | 2nd round | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| 1994 | Claes Andersson | 122,820 | 3.8 (#6) | Lost | ||
| 2000 | None | Lost | ||||
| 2006 | Supported Tarja Halonen | 1,397,030 | 46,31 (#1) | 1,630,980 | 51,79 (#1) | Won |
| 2012 | Paavo Arhinm?ki | 167,359 | 5.5 (#6) | Lost | ||
| 2018 | Merja Kyll?nen | 89,977 | 3.0 (#7) | Lost | ||
| 2024 | Li Andersson | 158,328 | 4.88 (#5) | Lost | ||
Elected members of parliament
editThe following politicians were elected to the Finnish Parliament in the April 2023 parliamentary election.
References
edit- ^ "Anna M?kip?? vasemmistoliiton puoluesihteeriksi". Vasemmisto.fi. Left Alliance. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "The Left Women in Finland". Vasemmistonaiset.fi. The Left Women in Finland. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ Puhakka, Sami (3 May 2020). "Vasemmistoliiton vahvuus on erilaisten ihmisten yhteisty?ss?". Kansan Uutiset. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "Finland". Europe Elects. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Finland: Economic and Political Overview". Lloyds Bank. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Finland's Left Alliance ditches negative stance on Nato". Helsinki Times. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ [4][5][6]
- ^ "Now the People".
- ^ "Finland". Europe Elects. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ "Finland's Left Alliance ditches negative stance on Nato". Helsinki Times. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ^ [9][5][10]
- ^
- Claire Annesley (11 January 2013). Political and Economic Dictionary of Western Europe. Routledge. pp. 22–. ISBN 978-1-135-35547-0.
- Raunio, Tapio (2010). "The EU and the Welfare State are Compatible: Finnish Social Democrats and European Integration". Government and Opposition. 45 (2): 187–207. doi:10.1111/j.1477-7053.2009.01310.x. ISSN 0017-257X. S2CID 154015109.
- Iso-Markku, Tuomas (May 2014). Linking domestic and European politics: Finnish MEPs and the votes that shaped the 7th European Parliament (PDF). The Finnish Institute of International Affairs. ISBN 978-951-769-414-8.
- Raunio, Tapio (January 2016). "The Finnish Eduskunta and the European Union: The Strengths and Weaknesses of a Mandating System". The Palgrave Handbook of National Parliaments and the European Union. pp. 406–424. doi:10.1007/978-1-137-28913-1_20. ISBN 978-1-349-67095-6.
- "6-party government in Finland after lengthy talks". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2025-08-06. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ^ Matthews-Ferrero, Daniel; P?ri, Jasmin; Steenland, Robert (2025-08-06). "EU country briefing: Finland". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Why Basic Income Failed in Finland". jacobin.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Populism Report" (PDF). Foundation for European Progressive Studies. September 2017.
- ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Finland". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Left Alliance Party Program 2007" (PDF). Vasemmisto. 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Minister of Education". Valtioneuvosto. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Minister of Social Affairs and Health". Valtioneuvosto. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ WHO WE ARE
- ^ "Viialainen Matti - Suomen sosialidemokraattinen puolue - Eduskuntavaalit 2007 - HS.fi" (in Finnish). .vaalikone.fi. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ HT (26 March 2014). "Left Alliance leaves government". www.helsinkitimes.fi.
- ^ "Koko maa - puolueiden kannatus". Yle uutiset. Yleisradio. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ "Puheenjohtajuuden j?tt?v? Arhinm?ki Ylell?: Enemm?n aikaa perheelle". Iltalehti. 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Li Andersson kruunattiin virallisesti puheenjohtajaksi". Iltalehti. 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Front Page". tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Front Page". tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ Ahponen, Tatu (6 April 2023). "Sanna Marin's Government Failed Because It Wasn't Ambitious Enough". Jacobin. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "In Finland, the Left Alliance Just Trounced the Far Right". jacobin.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Ylen eurovaalimittaus: Vihre?t menett?m?ss? kaksi meppipaikkaa ja RKP ainoansa – perussuomalaiset vahvistunut". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ O'Carroll, Lisa (2025-08-06). "Leftwing Nordic nations provide 'ray of hope' in Europe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ Kinnunen, Pekka; Auvinen, Pirjo (19 October 2024). "Left Alliance chooses Minja Koskela as new leader". Yle News.
- ^ "Results Service | County Elections 2025 | Yle". vaalit.yle.fi. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Vaaleissa n?kyi ideologinen siirtym? vasemmalle, arvioi tutkija". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ a b c "Tavoitteet". Vasemmistoliitto (in Finnish). Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Where Next for Finland's Welfare State?". Jacobin. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Vasemmisto puhuu ekologisesta j?lleenrakennuksesta, mutta mist? siin? on kyse – Hanna Sarkkinen vastaa". Kansan Uutiset (in Finnish). 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ a b "Left Alliance calls for decriminalisation of drug use, NCP would allow snus sales". News. 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ Vanttinen, Pekka (2025-08-06). "Finnish Left Alliance to stay in government regardless of NATO application". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Viisi nostoa vasemmistoliiton puoluekokouksesta – paljon hyv?? ja muutamia avoimia kysymyksi?". Kansan Uutiset (in Finnish). 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Nato | Vasemmistoliitto luopui kielteisest? Nato-kannastaan, esitt?? my?s PKK:n poistamista EU:n terroristij?rjest?jen listalta". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Coalition partner in Finland calls for removal of PKK from terrorist list". Medya News. 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Finnland: Linksbündnis fordert Streichung der PKK von Terrorliste". Firat News (in German). Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "Vasemmistoliitto vaatii Suomea tunnustamaan Palestiinan valtion – "Asekauppa lopetettava Israelin kanssa"". Kansan Uutiset. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
External links
edit- Official website
(in Finnish) - Website in English