Finland
The story
1944–1990 · Postwar communism
Finland was among the few Western countries where communism enjoyed genuine mass support. Banned before and during the war, it re-emerged in 1944 as the Democratic League of the People of Finland (SKDL), drawing 15–25 percent of the vote from the 1940s to the 1980s and joining three governing coalitions — in 1958 becoming the largest party in the country, only the second time a communist party had won a Western European election. President Urho Kekkonen's strategy of including it in government was described as 'embracing them to death'. The party split in the mid-1980s; most members joined the new Left Alliance (VAS) in 1990.
1959–1995 · Agrarian populism and the True Finns' roots
The Finnish Rural Party (SMP), founded in 1959 by Veikko Vennamo on behalf of "the forgotten people" — small farmers and the unemployed — joined government after the 1983 election and stayed until 1990 before collapsing in the 1990s. Former members, including Timo Soini, founded the Finns Party (PS, originally known in English as the True Finns) in 1995; the party managed just one percent in its first two elections.
2011–2023 · From breakthrough to government, twice
PS broke through in 2011 with 19 percent, then declined to join government over EU bailout policy. It finally entered coalition in 2015, tempering its euroscepticism — until 2017, when the more radical Jussi Halla-Aho replaced Soini as leader and the coalition partners refused to continue with him; PS's own ministers split off to form Blue Reform, which then vanished by 2019 as PS itself recovered. Under Riikka Purra since 2021, PS took second place with 20 percent in 2023 — its best result ever — and re-entered government, now holding seven ministerial posts.
PS blends left-leaning economics (a stronger welfare state, progressive taxation) with social conservatism, strong nationalism, and past scepticism about the Swedish-language requirement in schools. It reversed its opposition to NATO membership after Russia's 2022 invasion and now ranks among Europe's most anti-Russian populist parties, while remaining softly eurosceptic. Minor splinters — the pro-Russian Power Belongs to the People and the fascist Blue-and-Black Movement — have peeled off from its more radical fringes.
2023-2026 · THE FINNS PARTY IN GOVERNMENT
Since returning to government in 2023, alongside the National Coalition Party, the Christian Democrats and the Swedish People's Party, PS has had its greatest impact on migration and criminal justice: much stricter rules on citizenship, residence permits, asylum and family migration, and tougher penalties. Riikka Purra heads the Ministry of Finance. The party has backed the government's mainstream line on foreign and European policy, including strong support for Ukraine, but has faced repeated controversies. The 2024 European election was a major disappointment: 7% and one of its two seats lost. As of June 2026 it polls around 14%, about five points below its 2023 result.
EP elections
PS has held EP seats since 2009, co-founding the EFD group before moving to ECR in 2014, then to Identity and Democracy in 2019, and back to ECR in 2023, following its return to national government. In 2024 it fell to 7% and lost one of its two seats.
PS
Finns Party
- Economics Centre
- Social issues Conservative
- EU Soft euroscepticism
- Authoritarianism Low