The Finnish Rural Party ( fi, Suomen maaseudun puolue, SMP; sv, Finlands landsbygdsparti, FLP) was an
agrarian and
populist
Populism refers to a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against " the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment. The term developed ...
political party in Finland
This article is a list of political parties in Finland, which includes Finland's national-level political parties and excludes local and provincial parties (such as the parties of Åland). A party is defined as a political association whose exis ...
. Starting as a breakaway faction of the
Agrarian League in 1959 as the Small Peasants' Party of Finland (Suomen Pientalonpoikien Puolue), the party was identified with the person of
Veikko Vennamo
Veikko Emil Aleksander Vennamo (originally ''Fennander'') (11 June 1913 – 12 June 1997) was a Finnish politician. In 1959, he founded the Finnish Rural Party (''Suomen Maaseudun Puolue''), which was succeeded by the True Finns in 1995. He had o ...
, a former Agrarian League Member of Parliament known for his opposition to the politics of President
Urho Kekkonen
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (; 3 September 1900 – 31 August 1986), often referred to by his initials UKK, was a Finnish politician who served as the eighth and longest-serving president of Finland from 1956 to 1982. He also served as Prime Minister ...
. Vennamo was chairman of the Finnish Rural Party between 1959 and 1979.
Support for the party was at its highest in the 1970s and 1980s, with its share of the votes reaching around 10 percent in some parliamentary elections.
[Anders Widfeldt: “A fourth phase of the extreme right? Nordic immigration-critical parties in a comparative context”. In: NORDEUROPAforum (2010:1/2), 7-31, http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/nordeuropaforum/2010-1/widfeldt-anders-7/XML/] In the 1990s, the party fell into financial trouble and was disbanded in 1995 (formally dissolved in 2003). The
Finns Party
The Finns Party, formerly known as the True Finns ( fi, Perussuomalaiset, PS, sv, Sannfinländarna, Sannf.), is a right-wing populist political party in Finland. It was founded in 1995 following the dissolution of the Finnish Rural Party.
The ...
is the successor of the Finnish Rural Party.
History
The founder of the Finnish Rural Party was
Veikko Vennamo
Veikko Emil Aleksander Vennamo (originally ''Fennander'') (11 June 1913 – 12 June 1997) was a Finnish politician. In 1959, he founded the Finnish Rural Party (''Suomen Maaseudun Puolue''), which was succeeded by the True Finns in 1995. He had o ...
, leader of a faction in the Agrarian League (which was renamed
Centre Party in 1965). The relations of Veikko Vennamo and the Agrarian League's strong man
Urho Kekkonen
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (; 3 September 1900 – 31 August 1986), often referred to by his initials UKK, was a Finnish politician who served as the eighth and longest-serving president of Finland from 1956 to 1982. He also served as Prime Minister ...
were icy at best, and after Kekkonen was elected
president
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
in 1956 Vennamo ran into serious disagreement with the party secretary, Arvo Korsimo, and was excluded from the parliamentary group. As a result, he immediately founded his own party in 1959.
Small Peasants' Party of Finland
Small Peasants' Party of Finland (Suomen Pientalonpoikien Puolue) was established in 1959. The founders of the party were members of the
Agrarian League. The leader of the party,
Veikko Vennamo
Veikko Emil Aleksander Vennamo (originally ''Fennander'') (11 June 1913 – 12 June 1997) was a Finnish politician. In 1959, he founded the Finnish Rural Party (''Suomen Maaseudun Puolue''), which was succeeded by the True Finns in 1995. He had o ...
, resided as the head of The Department of Housing and Land Reform with relations to the Carelian refugees after the
Continuation war
The Continuation War, also known as the Second Soviet-Finnish War, was a conflict fought by Finland and Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1944, as part of World War II.; sv, fortsättningskriget; german: Fortsetzungskrieg. A ...
. Vennamos skisma with his own party started when V. J. Sukselainen was elected the chairman of the Agrarian League.
Ideologically the split began in December, 1957, when Mr. Paavo Ojalehto from Northern Finland wrote a letter to the board of the members of the Agrarian League claiming, that the party secretary of the Agrarian League, Mr.
Arvo Korsimo
Arvo is a Finnish and Estonian given name for males and may refer to:
* Arvo Aalto (born 1932), Finnish politician
*Arvo Aaltonen (1892–1949), Finnish swimmer and Olympic medalist
*Arvo Aller (born 1973), Estonian politician
*Arvo Andresson (19 ...
did not meet the traditional moral values and did not appreciate chastity. The only member supporting Ojalehto's claim was
Veikko Vennamo
Veikko Emil Aleksander Vennamo (originally ''Fennander'') (11 June 1913 – 12 June 1997) was a Finnish politician. In 1959, he founded the Finnish Rural Party (''Suomen Maaseudun Puolue''), which was succeeded by the True Finns in 1995. He had o ...
. Vennamo was not allowed to take part in party the parliamentary group of the Agragian League in the parliament of Finland for a set period of time in 1958. Suomen Pientalonpoikien puolue was registered in the end of 1958. The only MP of the party was
Veikko Vennamo
Veikko Emil Aleksander Vennamo (originally ''Fennander'') (11 June 1913 – 12 June 1997) was a Finnish politician. In 1959, he founded the Finnish Rural Party (''Suomen Maaseudun Puolue''), which was succeeded by the True Finns in 1995. He had o ...
.
As
Johannes Virolainen
Johannes Virolainen (; 31 January 1914 – 11 December 2000) was a Finnish politician and who served as 30th Prime Minister of Finland.
Virolainen was born near Viipuri. After the Continuation War Virolainen moved to Lohja, but he remained one ...
succeeded Vieno Johannes Sukselainen as the chairman of the Agrarian League and had the name of the Agrarian League changed to Center Party (Keskustapuolue) in 1965 to meet better the needs of the sons and daughters of the farmers, who sought work in the cities, towns and boroughs as an alternative to the emigration to Sweden. The Small Peasants Party of Finland emphasized its position of defending the small peasants agriculture on its behalf.
In 1966 the party was renamed The Rural Party of Finland.
Finnish Rural Party
The Finnish Rural Party started as a protest movement, with support from the unemployed and small farmers.
The state-sponsored resettlement of veterans of World War II and evacuees from
ceded Karelia into independent small farms provided an independent power base to Vennamo, who was nationally well known, having served as director of the government resettlement agency since the end of the war. Vennamo was the honorary chairman of ''Asutusliitto'', the resettler society, and the society was involved in early campaigning. For the newly founded party, the main carrying force was Vennamo, who was charismatic, a good orator and a skilled negotiator.
The Rural Party won in its best showing with 18 seats in the Finnish parliament (which has 200 seats) in the 1970 election. The party got exactly the same amount of MPs in the next election in 1972, but was soon afterwards split in two as a majority of the parliamentary group, 12 members, resigned to establish a new party called the
Finnish People's Unity Party
Finnish People's Unity Party ( fi, Suomen Kansan Yhtenäisyyden Puolue, SKYP) was a split from the Rural Party of Finland. The party was formed as some of the members of the parliamentary group of the Rural Party of Finland wanted to support ...
(''Suomen Kansan Yhtenäisyyden Puolue'', SKYP). The party defectors accused Vennamo of autocratic leadership, while Vennamo accused the defectors of having been bought off with parliamentary party subsidies.
Veikko Vennamo's son,
Pekka Vennamo
Pekka Veikko Vennamo (born 7 November 1944 in Helsinki) is a Finnish politician and corporate executive. He was the leader of the Finnish Rural Party from 1979 to 1989. He was also member of the Parliament of Finland from 1972 to 1975 represent ...
, became the party leader when his father retired in the 1980s. Vennamo Junior had neither the charisma nor the oratorical skills of his father. Other parties noticed this, and the Rural Party was taken into the cabinet in 1983. As a protest movement without a charismatic leader, burdened with ministers participating in unpopular coalitions, the party gradually lost political support.
Agricultural changes proved hard for small farmers, who sold their farms and moved to the cities. The
Social Democratic Party
The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology.
Active parties
For ...
was seen as a more credible alternative for the unemployed. Finally, the declining support of the Rural Party forced Vennamo Junior to resign. Some of the party's former MPs joined the
Centre Party or retired with Vennamo. The party's last chairman and MP
Raimo Vistbacka
Raimo Viljam Vistbacka (born 19 October 1945 in Kauhava) is a Finnish politician and former member of the Finnish Parliament. Vistbacka has a master's degree in law (''varatuomari'') and he was the rural police chief (''nimismies'') in Alajärvi in ...
(the only one elected in 1995) was among the founders of the
Finns Party
The Finns Party, formerly known as the True Finns ( fi, Perussuomalaiset, PS, sv, Sannfinländarna, Sannf.), is a right-wing populist political party in Finland. It was founded in 1995 following the dissolution of the Finnish Rural Party.
The ...
and became that party's first MP and chairman. The Rural Party's last party secretary
Timo Soini
Timo Juhani Soini (born 30 May 1962) is a Finnish politician who is the co-founder and former leader of the Finns Party. He served as Deputy Prime Minister of Finland from 2015 to 2017 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2019.
He was e ...
likewise became the Finns Party's first party secretary. With the Finns Party's electoral success in the
2011 election three former Rural Party MPs returned to the parliament as Finns Party MPs (Anssi Joutsenlahti, Lea Mäkipää, Pentti Kettunen).
It declared bankruptcy in 2003. Four supporters of the Rural Party of Finland, including
Timo Soini
Timo Juhani Soini (born 30 May 1962) is a Finnish politician who is the co-founder and former leader of the Finns Party. He served as Deputy Prime Minister of Finland from 2015 to 2017 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2019.
He was e ...
and
Raimo Vistbacka
Raimo Viljam Vistbacka (born 19 October 1945 in Kauhava) is a Finnish politician and former member of the Finnish Parliament. Vistbacka has a master's degree in law (''varatuomari'') and he was the rural police chief (''nimismies'') in Alajärvi in ...
, established the
Finns Party
The Finns Party, formerly known as the True Finns ( fi, Perussuomalaiset, PS, sv, Sannfinländarna, Sannf.), is a right-wing populist political party in Finland. It was founded in 1995 following the dissolution of the Finnish Rural Party.
The ...
. The decision to establish this new party was made in a
sauna
A sauna (, ), or sudatory, is a small room or building designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these facilities. The steam and high heat make the bathers perspire. A thermometer in a ...
in the village of
Kalmari in the town of
Saarijärvi
Saarijärvi () is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of
() and covers an area of of
which
is water. The population density is
.
Neighbouring municipalities are K ...
.
Ideology
The party held
anti-establishment
An anti-establishment view or belief is one which stands in opposition to the conventional social, political, and economic principles of a society. The term was first used in the modern sense in 1958, by the British magazine ''New Statesman'' ...
or
anti-elite views, and criticized other politicians and parties, the government, "bureaucrats", international corporations, academics, cultural elites and corruption, while idealizing the ordinary people and small-time entrepreneurs of the countryside. Vennamo attacked, for example, other members of the parliament for over-claiming daily allowances. The party was also
anti-communist
Anti-communism is Political movement, political and Ideology, ideological opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in the Russian Empire, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, w ...
, and claimed established parties and the political leadership were too subservient to the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
.
Vennamo was known for inventing and using pejorative terms, such as ''rötösherrat'' ("rotten gentlemen"), referring to allegedly corrupt politicians, and ''teoriaherrat'' ("theoretical gentlemen"), referring to academics allegedly lacking common sense. A slogan used by the party was ''Kyllä kansa tietää!'' ("Yes, the people know!").
The party professed to hold traditional
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
values, and, for example, opposed the
decriminalization of homosexuality
Criminalization of homosexuality is the classification of some or all sexual acts between men, and less frequently between women, as a criminal offense. Most of the time, such laws are unenforced with regard to consensual same-sex conduct, but ...
in 1971. Racism and xenophobia were not visibly part of the party's ideology.
Prominent Ruralists
Chairmen
*
Veikko Vennamo
Veikko Emil Aleksander Vennamo (originally ''Fennander'') (11 June 1913 – 12 June 1997) was a Finnish politician. In 1959, he founded the Finnish Rural Party (''Suomen Maaseudun Puolue''), which was succeeded by the True Finns in 1995. He had o ...
(1959–1979)
*
Pekka Vennamo
Pekka Veikko Vennamo (born 7 November 1944 in Helsinki) is a Finnish politician and corporate executive. He was the leader of the Finnish Rural Party from 1979 to 1989. He was also member of the Parliament of Finland from 1972 to 1975 represent ...
(1979–1989)
*
Heikki Riihijärvi (1989–1991)
*
Tina Mäkelä (1991–1992)
*
Raimo Vistbacka
Raimo Viljam Vistbacka (born 19 October 1945 in Kauhava) is a Finnish politician and former member of the Finnish Parliament. Vistbacka has a master's degree in law (''varatuomari'') and he was the rural police chief (''nimismies'') in Alajärvi in ...
(1992–1995)
Party Secretaries
*
Köpi Luoma 1959–1960
*
Eino Poutiainen
Eino is a Finnish and Estonian masculine given name. The name is thought to be the Finnic form of the given name Henri. Both Finnish and Estonian languages belong to the Finno-Ugric language group through their being Uralic languages.Langu ...
1961–1970
*
Rainer Lemström 1970–1972 ja 1977–1979
*
Urpo Leppänen 1972–1977 ja 1979–1984
*
Aaro Niiranen 1984−1989
*
Tina Mäkelä 1989–1991
*
Reijo Rinne 1991−1992
*
Timo Soini
Timo Juhani Soini (born 30 May 1962) is a Finnish politician who is the co-founder and former leader of the Finns Party. He served as Deputy Prime Minister of Finland from 2015 to 2017 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2019.
He was e ...
1992–1995
Deputy Chairpersons
*
Tauno Lääperi 1959–?
*
Aarne Jokela 1959–?
*
Rainer Lemström 1. 1976–1977
*
Aune Rutonen 2. 1976–1982
*
Eino Poutiainen
Eino is a Finnish and Estonian masculine given name. The name is thought to be the Finnic form of the given name Henri. Both Finnish and Estonian languages belong to the Finno-Ugric language group through their being Uralic languages.Langu ...
1977–1979
*
Niilo Salpakari 1980–1982
*
Leo Lassila 1982–1983
*
Helvi Koskinen 1982–1985
*
Kalle Palosaari 1. 1983–1988
*
Lea Mäkipää 2. 1985–
*
Timo Soini
Timo Juhani Soini (born 30 May 1962) is a Finnish politician who is the co-founder and former leader of the Finns Party. He served as Deputy Prime Minister of Finland from 2015 to 2017 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2019.
He was e ...
1. 1991–1992
[Raija Kaikkonen]
Tina Mäkelä Smp:n johtoon
Helsingin Sanomat 5.8.1991
*
Toivo Satomaa 2. 1991–
*
Marja-Leena Leppänen
*
Jouko Kröger
Chairpersons of the parliamentary group
*
J. Juhani Kortesalmi (1979–1983, 1986–1987)
*
Veikko Vennamo
Veikko Emil Aleksander Vennamo (originally ''Fennander'') (11 June 1913 – 12 June 1997) was a Finnish politician. In 1959, he founded the Finnish Rural Party (''Suomen Maaseudun Puolue''), which was succeeded by the True Finns in 1995. He had o ...
(1983–1986)
*
Heikki Riihijärvi (1987)
*
Urpo Leppänen (1987–1988)
*
Sulo Aittoniemi
Sulo Aittoniemi (11 July 1936 – 16 June 2016) was a Finnish
Finnish may refer to:
* Something or someone from, or related to Finland
* Culture of Finland
* Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland
* Finnish language, the nat ...
(1988–1994)
*
Lea Mäkipää (1994–1995)
*
Raimo Vistbacka
Raimo Viljam Vistbacka (born 19 October 1945 in Kauhava) is a Finnish politician and former member of the Finnish Parliament. Vistbacka has a master's degree in law (''varatuomari'') and he was the rural police chief (''nimismies'') in Alajärvi in ...
(1995)
Party Congresses
*Perustava kokous (founding congress) 9.2.1959
Pieksämäki
Pieksämäki () is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the Southern Savonia region, about north of Mikkeli, east of Jyväskylä and south of Kuopio. The town has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The ...
*1. puoluekokous (party congress) 29.–30.1959
Kiuruvesi
Kiuruvesi is a List of cities and towns in Finland, town and municipalities of Finland, municipality of Finland located in the Northern Savonia regions of Finland, region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of
which is wa ...
*2. puoluekokous 3.–4.9.1960
Joensuu
Joensuu (; krl, Jovensuu; ) is a city and municipality in North Karelia, Finland, located on the northern shore of Lake Pyhäselkä (northern part of Lake Saimaa) at the mouth of the Pielinen River (''Pielisjoki''). It was founded in 1848. Th ...
*3. puoluekokous 4.–5.8.1961
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä () is a city and municipality in Finland in the western part of the Finnish Lakeland. It is located about 150 km north-east from Tampere, the third largest city in Finland; and about 270 km north from Helsinki, the capital of ...
*4. puoluekokous 16.–17.6.1962
Pieksämäki
Pieksämäki () is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the Southern Savonia region, about north of Mikkeli, east of Jyväskylä and south of Kuopio. The town has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The ...
*5. puoluekokous 15.–16.6.1963
Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki (; "Wall River"; la, Wegelia, formerly sv, Östermyra) is a city located in South Ostrobothnia, Finland; east of Vaasa, north of Tampere, west of Jyväskylä and southwest of Oulu. Seinäjoki originated around the Östermyra bru ...
*6. puoluekokous 13.–14.6.1964
Kuopio
Kuopio (, ) is a Finnish city and municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia. It has a population of , which makes it the most populous municipality in Finland. Along with Joensuu, Kuopio is one of the major urban, economic, and cult ...
*7. puoluekokous 12.–13.6.1965
Oulu
Oulu ( , ; sv, Uleåborg ) is a city, municipality and a seaside resort of about 210,000 inhabitants in the region of North Ostrobothnia, Finland. It is the most populous city in northern Finland and the fifth most populous in the country after: ...
*8. puoluekokous 13.–14.8.1966
Tampere
Tampere ( , , ; sv, Tammerfors, ) is a city in the Pirkanmaa region, located in the western part of Finland. Tampere is the most populous inland city in the Nordic countries. It has a population of 244,029; the urban area has a population o ...
*ylimääräinen puoluekokous (extraordinary party congress) 29.10.1966
Helsinki
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...
*9. puoluekokous 5.–6.8.1967
Helsinki
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...
*10. puoluekokous 3.–4.8.1968
Kajaani
Kajaani (; sv, Kajana) is the most populous town and the capital of the Kainuu Region of Finland. It is located southeast of Lake Oulu (Oulujärvi), which drains into the Gulf of Bothnia through the Oulu River (Oulujoki). As of , it had a pop ...
*11. puoluekokous 16.–17.8.1969
Pori
)
, website www.pori.fi
Pori (; sv, Björneborg ) is a city and municipality on the west coast of Finland. The city is located some from the Gulf of Bothnia, on the estuary of the Kokemäki River, west of Tampere, north of Turku and north-w ...
*12. puoluekokous ?.8.1970
Lahti
Lahti (; sv, Lahtis) is a city and municipality in Finland. It is the capital of the region of Päijänne Tavastia (Päijät-Häme) and its growing region is one of the main economic hubs of Finland. Lahti is situated on a bay at the southern e ...
*13. puoluekokous 7.–8.8.1971
Oulu
Oulu ( , ; sv, Uleåborg ) is a city, municipality and a seaside resort of about 210,000 inhabitants in the region of North Ostrobothnia, Finland. It is the most populous city in northern Finland and the fifth most populous in the country after: ...
*14. puoluekokous 12.8.1972
Kouvola
Kouvola () is a cities of Finland, city and Municipalities of Finland, municipality in southeastern Finland. It is located along the Kymijoki, Kymijoki River in the Regions of Finland, region of Kymenlaakso, kilometers east of Lahti, west of Lapp ...
*15. puoluekokous 4.–5.8.1973
Mikkeli
Mikkeli (; sv, S:t Michel; la, Michaelia) is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in what used to be the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Etelä-Savo region. The municipality has a population of () (around 34,000 i ...
*16. puoluekokous 3.–4.8.1974
Turku
Turku ( ; ; sv, Åbo, ) is a city and former capital on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River, in the region of Finland Proper (''Varsinais-Suomi'') and the former Turku and Pori Province (''Turun ja Porin lääni''; ...
*17. puoluekokous 1975
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä () is a city and municipality in Finland in the western part of the Finnish Lakeland. It is located about 150 km north-east from Tampere, the third largest city in Finland; and about 270 km north from Helsinki, the capital of ...
*18. puoluekokous 7.–8.8.1976
Joensuu
Joensuu (; krl, Jovensuu; ) is a city and municipality in North Karelia, Finland, located on the northern shore of Lake Pyhäselkä (northern part of Lake Saimaa) at the mouth of the Pielinen River (''Pielisjoki''). It was founded in 1848. Th ...
*19. puoluekokous 6.–7.8.1977
Oulu
Oulu ( , ; sv, Uleåborg ) is a city, municipality and a seaside resort of about 210,000 inhabitants in the region of North Ostrobothnia, Finland. It is the most populous city in northern Finland and the fifth most populous in the country after: ...
*20. puoluekokous 5.–6.8.1978
Tampere
Tampere ( , , ; sv, Tammerfors, ) is a city in the Pirkanmaa region, located in the western part of Finland. Tampere is the most populous inland city in the Nordic countries. It has a population of 244,029; the urban area has a population o ...
*21. puoluekokous 4.–5.8.1979
Pori
)
, website www.pori.fi
Pori (; sv, Björneborg ) is a city and municipality on the west coast of Finland. The city is located some from the Gulf of Bothnia, on the estuary of the Kokemäki River, west of Tampere, north of Turku and north-w ...
*22. puoluekokous 1.–3.8.1980
Lahti
Lahti (; sv, Lahtis) is a city and municipality in Finland. It is the capital of the region of Päijänne Tavastia (Päijät-Häme) and its growing region is one of the main economic hubs of Finland. Lahti is situated on a bay at the southern e ...
*23. puoluekokous 7.–9.8.1981
Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki (; "Wall River"; la, Wegelia, formerly sv, Östermyra) is a city located in South Ostrobothnia, Finland; east of Vaasa, north of Tampere, west of Jyväskylä and southwest of Oulu. Seinäjoki originated around the Östermyra bru ...
*24. puoluekokous 6.–8.8.1982
Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta (; sv, Villmanstrand) is a city and municipality in the region of South Karelia, about from the Russian border and from the town of Vyborg (''Viipuri''). It is situated on the shore of the Lake Saimaa in southeastern Finland, and ...
*25. puoluekokous 5.–7.8.1983
Kuopio
Kuopio (, ) is a Finnish city and municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia. It has a population of , which makes it the most populous municipality in Finland. Along with Joensuu, Kuopio is one of the major urban, economic, and cult ...
*26. puoluekokous 3.–5.8.1984
Turku
Turku ( ; ; sv, Åbo, ) is a city and former capital on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River, in the region of Finland Proper (''Varsinais-Suomi'') and the former Turku and Pori Province (''Turun ja Porin lääni''; ...
*27. puoluekokous 2.–4.8.1985
Hyvinkää
Hyvinkää (; sv, Hyvinge, ) is a city and municipality of Finland. It is located in the Uusimaa region, approximately north of the capital Helsinki. The city was chartered in 1960. The population of Hyvinkää is (). Its neighboring municipal ...
*28. puoluekokous 8.–10.8.1986
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä () is a city and municipality in Finland in the western part of the Finnish Lakeland. It is located about 150 km north-east from Tampere, the third largest city in Finland; and about 270 km north from Helsinki, the capital of ...
*29. puoluekokous 7.–9.8.1987
Oulu
Oulu ( , ; sv, Uleåborg ) is a city, municipality and a seaside resort of about 210,000 inhabitants in the region of North Ostrobothnia, Finland. It is the most populous city in northern Finland and the fifth most populous in the country after: ...
*30. puoluekokous 5.–7.8.1988
Lahti
Lahti (; sv, Lahtis) is a city and municipality in Finland. It is the capital of the region of Päijänne Tavastia (Päijät-Häme) and its growing region is one of the main economic hubs of Finland. Lahti is situated on a bay at the southern e ...
*33. puoluekokous 4.–5.8.1991
Turku
Turku ( ; ; sv, Åbo, ) is a city and former capital on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River, in the region of Finland Proper (''Varsinais-Suomi'') and the former Turku and Pori Province (''Turun ja Porin lääni''; ...
*34. puoluekokous 1.8.1993
Mikkeli
Mikkeli (; sv, S:t Michel; la, Michaelia) is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in what used to be the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Etelä-Savo region. The municipality has a population of () (around 34,000 i ...
[Raija Kaikkonen]
Smp:lle uusi johtaja täpärässä äänestyksessä
Helsingin Sanomat 2.8.1992
*35. puoluekokous 3.–4.7.1994
Oulu
Oulu ( , ; sv, Uleåborg ) is a city, municipality and a seaside resort of about 210,000 inhabitants in the region of North Ostrobothnia, Finland. It is the most populous city in northern Finland and the fifth most populous in the country after: ...
[Pekka Väisänen]
Urpo Leppäsen paluuyritys sähköisti Smp:n puoluekokouksen
Helsingin Sanomat 4.7.1993[Räisänen 1989]
Election results
Parliamentary elections
Local council (municipal) elections
Presidential elections
References
{{reflist
External links
Kyösti Pekonen, Pertti Hynynen and Mari Kalliala; accessed 26 March 2011.
1959 establishments in Finland
2003 disestablishments in Finland
Defunct agrarian political parties
Defunct political parties in Finland
History of the Finns Party
Nordic agrarian parties
Political parties disestablished in 2003
Political parties established in 1959
Political schisms