The Finns Party
 |
|
| Leader | Timo Soini |
| Founded | 11 May 1995 |
| Preceded by | Finnish Rural Party (de facto) |
| Headquarters | Yrjönkatu 8-10 FI-00120 Helsinki |
| Youth wing | Finns Party Youth |
| Ideology |
Finnish nationalism Economic nationalism Social conservatism Right-wing populism Euroscepticism |
| Political position | Social: Right-wing Economic: Centre-left |
| European affiliation | Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe |
| European Parliament group | European Conservatives and Reformists |
| Colours | Blue, White, and Gold |
| Parliament |
37 / 200
|
| European Parliament |
2 / 13
|
| Municipalities |
770 / 8,999
|
| Website | |
| www.perussuomalaiset.fi | |
The Finns Party, previously known as the True Finns (Finnish: Perussuomalaiset, PS, Swedish: Sannfinländarna, Sannf.), is a populist and nationalist-oriented Finnish political party, founded in 1995 following the dissolution of the Finnish Rural Party. Timo Soini has been the leader of the party since 1997. In the 2011 parliamentary election, the party won 19.1% of votes, becoming the third largest party in the Finnish Parliament. In the 2015 election the party got 17.7% of the votes, making them the parliament's second largest party. The party was in opposition for the first 20 years of its existence. In 2015 they joined the current government coalition.
The party combines left-wing economic policies with conservative social values, socio-cultural authoritarianism, and ethnic nationalism. Several researchers have described the party as fiscally centre-left, socially conservative, a "centre-based populist party" or the "most left-wing of the non-socialist parties", whereas other scholars have described them as radically right-wing populist. In the parliament seating order, the party's MPs have always been seated in the centre and the party's supporters have described themselves as centrists as well. The party has drawn people from left-wing parties but central aspects of their manifesto have gained support from right-wing voters as well. The chairman of the party, Timo Soini has said that the Finns Party is Finland's largest workers' party but also stated that the party is definitely not on the left-wing. Inside the party there is also a movement which can be considered clearly rightist, led by MEP Jussi Halla-aho. The Finns Party has been compared by international media to the other Nordic populist parties and other similar nationalist and right-wing populist movements in Europe that share euroscepticism and are critical of globalism, whilst noting its strong support for the Finnish welfare state.
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Wikipedia