Communist Party of Finland
Encyclopedia
The Communist Party of Finland was a communist political party
in Finland
. The SKP was a section of Comintern
and illegal in Finland until 1944.
SKP did not participate in any elections with its own name. Instead, front organisations were used. In the 1920's the communists took part in the Socialist Workers' Party of Finland
(1920–1923) and the Socialist Electoral Organisation of Workers and Smallholders (1924–1930). Both were banned by the state. In 1944, a new front, Finnish People's Democratic League
was formed. The SKP controlled these fronts but they always had a prominent minority of non-communist socialists.
. The Social Democratic Party of Finland
had supported the losing side, and several of its leaders were refugees in the Soviet Union
. Some of these refugees founded the Communist Party of Finland in Moscow
.
The SKP was illegal in Finland until 1944. After the Continuation War
the SKP dominated the Finnish People's Democratic League
, which was founded in 1944 as an umbrella organization
of the radical left wing.
was the "golden age" of Communists in Finland. Between 1944 and 1979 support of the Finnish People's Democratic League was in the range of 17%–24%. Communists participated in several cabinets, but Finland never had a communist Prime Minister or President
. In the mid 1960s the U.S. State Department estimated the party membership to be approximately 40 000 (1.44% of the working age population). The SKP received substantial financial support from the Soviet Union
during the Cold War . Soviet threats to withdraw support were the main reason why reformists didn't expel the hardline Stalinist minority (Taistoists, after Taisto Sinisalo
. The word "taisto" also means "battle" or "fight". The double connotation made this slur, originally launched by the largest Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, stick. ) from the party leadership or membership.
The youth wing of the SKP was the Communist Youth League of Finland (SKNL, 1925–1936). After World War II
young communists were active in the SKDL's Democratic Youth League of Finland (SNDL). SNDL was member of World Federation of Democratic Youth
.
The SKP's main rival for domination of the political left was the Social Democratic Party of Finland
. The competition was very bitter in trade union
s and other leftist organizations. The Communists gradually lost ground and were weakened by internal disputes. Taistoists often attacked the more Eurocommunist party leadership. In practice, the party consisted of two parallel structures. In 1985–1986 a large number of Taistoists, hundreds of party organizations with thousands of members, were expelled. They regrouped as Communist Party of Finland (Unity) (SKPy) which later evolved into the current Communist Party of Finland.
in 1990.
SKPy, originally the faction of the party expelled in 1985–1986, outlasted its parent and registered itself as the Communist Party of Finland in 1997 but has been unable to regain the former Communist Party's parliamentary representation. Its vote share in the elections of 2007
was 0.7%.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. The SKP was a section of Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
and illegal in Finland until 1944.
SKP did not participate in any elections with its own name. Instead, front organisations were used. In the 1920's the communists took part in the Socialist Workers' Party of Finland
Socialist Workers' Party of Finland
Socialist Workers' Party of Finland was a Finnish political party in the early 1920s. The SSTP consisted of radical leftists who split from the Social Democratic Party of Finland after the Finnish Civil War of 1918. The banned Communist Party of Finland was the main force behind the party but...
(1920–1923) and the Socialist Electoral Organisation of Workers and Smallholders (1924–1930). Both were banned by the state. In 1944, a new front, Finnish People's Democratic League
Finnish People's Democratic League
Finnish People's Democratic League was a Finnish political organisation with the aim of uniting those left of the Finnish Social Democratic Party...
was formed. The SKP controlled these fronts but they always had a prominent minority of non-communist socialists.
Early stages
In 1918 the "Reds" lost the Finnish Civil WarFinnish Civil War
The Finnish Civil War was a part of the national, political and social turmoil caused by World War I in Europe. The Civil War concerned control and leadership of The Grand Duchy of Finland as it achieved independence from Russia after the October Revolution in Petrograd...
. The Social Democratic Party of Finland
Social Democratic Party of Finland
The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
had supported the losing side, and several of its leaders were refugees in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Some of these refugees founded the Communist Party of Finland in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
The SKP was illegal in Finland until 1944. After the Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
the SKP dominated the Finnish People's Democratic League
Finnish People's Democratic League
Finnish People's Democratic League was a Finnish political organisation with the aim of uniting those left of the Finnish Social Democratic Party...
, which was founded in 1944 as an umbrella organization
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
of the radical left wing.
Cold War
The era of the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
was the "golden age" of Communists in Finland. Between 1944 and 1979 support of the Finnish People's Democratic League was in the range of 17%–24%. Communists participated in several cabinets, but Finland never had a communist Prime Minister or President
President of Finland
The President of the Republic of Finland is the nation's head of state. Under the Finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people of Finland for a term of six years....
. In the mid 1960s the U.S. State Department estimated the party membership to be approximately 40 000 (1.44% of the working age population). The SKP received substantial financial support from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
during the Cold War . Soviet threats to withdraw support were the main reason why reformists didn't expel the hardline Stalinist minority (Taistoists, after Taisto Sinisalo
Taisto Sinisalo
Taisto Jalo Sinisalo was a Finnish communist politician, MP of the SKDL , leader of the SKP`s orthodox pro-Soviet faction and vice chairman of the party . After the SKP split in the 1980s, Sinisalo became the first chairman of the Communist Party of Finland ....
. The word "taisto" also means "battle" or "fight". The double connotation made this slur, originally launched by the largest Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, stick. ) from the party leadership or membership.
The youth wing of the SKP was the Communist Youth League of Finland (SKNL, 1925–1936). After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
young communists were active in the SKDL's Democratic Youth League of Finland (SNDL). SNDL was member of World Federation of Democratic Youth
World Federation of Democratic Youth
The World Federation of Democratic Youth is a progressive youth organization, recognized by the United Nations as an international youth non-governmental organization. WFDY describes itself as an "anti-imperialist, left-wing" organisation...
.
The SKP's main rival for domination of the political left was the Social Democratic Party of Finland
Social Democratic Party of Finland
The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
. The competition was very bitter in trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s and other leftist organizations. The Communists gradually lost ground and were weakened by internal disputes. Taistoists often attacked the more Eurocommunist party leadership. In practice, the party consisted of two parallel structures. In 1985–1986 a large number of Taistoists, hundreds of party organizations with thousands of members, were expelled. They regrouped as Communist Party of Finland (Unity) (SKPy) which later evolved into the current Communist Party of Finland.
Collapse
The collapse of the Soviet Union led to ideological conflicts within the party, and bitter internal disputes plagued the party. The bad investments made during Aalto's reign resulted in financial bankruptcy in 1992. The SKP never recovered. A majority of the party members, with other member organizations of SKDL, formed the Left AllianceLeft Alliance (Finland)
The Left Alliance is a left-wing political party in Finland. It was founded on the basis of the Finnish People's Democratic League and the Communist Party of Finland in 1990....
in 1990.
SKPy, originally the faction of the party expelled in 1985–1986, outlasted its parent and registered itself as the Communist Party of Finland in 1997 but has been unable to regain the former Communist Party's parliamentary representation. Its vote share in the elections of 2007
Finnish parliamentary election, 2007
The Finnish parliamentary election of 2007 was the 35th election to the Eduskunta , held on 18 March 2007 after the termination of the previous parliamentary term. Early voting was possible from the 7–13 March. Two hundred MPs were elected from 15 constituencies.Election themes included a reduction...
was 0.7%.
Leaders
b>Chairmen
|
General se>retaries
|