Christian Democrats (Finland)
The Christian Democrats (KD, Finnish: Suomen Kristillisdemokraatit; Swedish: Kristdemokraterna i Finland) is a Christian-democratic political party in Finland.
Christian Democrats | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | KD |
| Chairperson | Sari Essayah |
| Secretary | Mikko Rekimies |
| General Secretary | Merja Eräpolku |
| Parliamentary group leader | Peter Östman |
| First deputy chair | Mika Poutala |
| Second deputy chair | Katriina Hiippavuori |
| Third deputy chair | David Pettersson |
| Founded | 6 May 1958 |
| Split from | National Coalition Party |
| Headquarters | Karjalankatu 2 A 00520, Helsinki |
| Newspaper | KD-lehti |
| Think tank | Ajatushautomo Kompassi |
| Youth wing | Christian Democratic Youth of Finland |
| Women's wing | Christian Democratic Women of Finland |
| Swedish wing | KD Svenska |
| Membership (2021) | 8,370 |
| Ideology | Christian democracy Social conservatism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| European affiliation | European People's Party |
| Nordic affiliation | Centre Group |
| Colors | Blue White Light blue Orange |
| Eduskunta | 5 / 200 |
| European Parliament | 0 / 14 |
| Municipalities | 314 / 8,859 |
| County seats | 57 / 1,379 |
| Website | |
| www.kd.fi | |
| |
It was founded in May 1958, chiefly by the Christian faction of the National Coalition Party. It entered parliament in 1970. The party leader since 28 August 2015 has been Sari Essayah. The Christian Democrats have five seats in the Finnish Parliament. It is positioned on the centre-right on the political spectrum.
The party name was for a long time abbreviated to SKL (standing for Suomen Kristillinen Liitto, Finlands Kristliga Förbund, Finnish Christian League), until 2001, when the party changed its name to the current Christian Democrats and its abbreviation to KD. The KD was a minor party in the centre-right coalition government led by Prime Minister Esko Aho between 1991 and 1994 and later a part of Rainbow coalition led by Jyrki Katainen and Alexander Stubb between 2011 and 2015. KD-lehti (English: CD News) is the party's weekly newspaper. The party is a member of the European People's Party.