National Progressive Party (Finland)

Last updated
National Progressive Party
Kansallinen Edistyspuolue
Founded8 December 1918
Dissolved1951
Split from Young Finnish Party
Succeeded by People's Party of Finland
Ideology Liberalism
International affiliation International Entente of Radical and Similar Democratic Parties

The National Progressive Party (Finnish : Kansallinen Edistyspuolue; Swedish : Framstegspartiet) was a liberal [1] political party in Finland from 1918 to 1951. The party was founded 8 December 1918, after the Finnish Civil War, by the republican majority of the Young Finnish Party and the republican minority of the Finnish Party [2] (the next day the monarchists of both parties founded the National Coalition Party. [2] )

Contents

In December 1918, the National Progressive Party adopted a social liberal programme that contained a wide range of progressive proposals. Amongst others, [3] these included land reform, state job creation work and unemployment schemes, state participation in the provision of housing-building schemes and compulsory sickness insurance pensions, legislation guaranteeing contracts, conditions of work and a minimum wage, and a progressive income and wealth tax to pay for this social reform programme. As noted by one study, “The spirit of the NPP’s programme, in short, was clearly that of social liberalism.” [4] Later programmes adopted by the National Progressive Party contained a number of reformist proposals as well. [5]

Famous members of the party included Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg and Risto Ryti, the first and fifth Presidents of Finland, and Sakari Tuomioja.

The National Progressive Party finished its existence in early 1951, as most of its active members had joined the People's Party of Finland. A minority group including Sakari Tuomioja founded the Liberal League.

Election results

Parliament of Finland
DateVotesSeatsPositionSize
No. %± ppNo.±
1919 123,09012.81New
26 / 200
NewCoalition4th
1922 79,6769.21Decrease2.svg 3.60
15 / 200
Decrease2.svg 11CoalitionDecrease2.svg 6th
1924 79,9379.09Decrease2.svg 0.12
17 / 200
Increase2.svg 2CoalitionSteady2.svg 6th
1927 61,6136.77Decrease2.svg 2.32
10 / 200
Decrease2.svg 7SupportSteady2.svg 6th
1929 53,3015.60Decrease2.svg 1.17
7 / 200
Decrease2.svg 3SupportSteady2.svg 6th
1930 65,8305.83Increase2.svg 0.23
10 / 200
Increase2.svg 3CoalitionIncrease2.svg 5th
1933 82,1297.41Increase2.svg 1.58
11 / 200
Increase2.svg 1CoalitionSteady2.svg 5th
1936 73,6546.28Decrease2.svg 1.13
7 / 200
Decrease2.svg 4CoalitionDecrease2.svg 6th
1939 62,3874.81Decrease2.svg 1.47
6 / 200
Decrease2.svg 1CoalitionSteady2.svg 6th
1945 87,8685.17Increase2.svg 0.36
9 / 200
Increase2.svg 2CoalitionSteady2.svg 6th
1948 73,4443.91Decrease2.svg 1.26
5 / 200
Increase2.svg 4OppositionSteady2.svg 6th
1951 Did not run.

See also

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References

  1. Giovanni Capoccia (2005). Defending Democracy: Reactions to Extremism in Interwar Europe. JHU Press. p. 141. ISBN   978-0-8018-8038-4.
  2. 1 2 Vares, Vesa (January 21, 2009). "Suomalainen puoluehistoria: Murrosvuodet 1917–1919". University of Turku.
  3. NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE PARTY PROGRAMME (Approved at the founding meeting in Helsinki on 8 December 1918) (In Finnish)
  4. Liberal Parties in Western Europe Edited by Emil J. Kirchner, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1988, P.346-347
  5. National Progressive Party programmes from 1918-1945 (In Finnish)