Left Alliance (Finland)

The Left Alliance (Vasemmistoliitto or Vänsterförbundet) is a green socialist political party in Finland. Its current chair is Martti Korhonen, and it is a member of the Nordic Green Left Alliance. In parliamentary elections, Left Alliance share of the vote has been close to ten per cent. The Left Alliance had three portfolios in the two cabinets of Paavo Lipponen (1995-2003).

The party currently has 17 MPs in the Finnish Eduskunta, and one MEP in the European Parliament.

History
The party was founded as a result of a merger between the Finnish People's Democratic League (SKDL), the Finnish Women's Democratic League (SNDL), and the Communist Party of Finland (SKP). The founding meeting was held in April 1990 in Helsinki, following the publishing of the April Declaration, which emphasised the need for a party that would promote the ideals of the French Revolution - liberty, equality, and fraternity - in addition to peace and environmental values.

The party's short history has been characterised by internal disputes and bickering, as it was formed by people with very different views on society. There have been several large-scale defections from the Left Alliance to the Social Democratic Party and the newly formed Communist Party of Finland (Unity). In 2005, the party's former secretary and SAK's assistant head Matti Viialainen formed a society to promote a merger between the two largest Finnish left-wing political parties, the Left Alliance and the Social Democrats. This caused an outrage within the Left Alliance, and Viialainen was condemned for wanting to break up the party.

In 2006, the party's leader Suvi-Anne Siimes announced her resignation from the post, and the party, as a result of long-standing feuds with the leftist section of the party. On May 13, 2006, Martti Korhonen was elected as the new party leader.

Ideology
In spite of its origins, the party is attempting to break away from association with the ideologies of socialism and communism, and to associate itself more closely with the 'New Left' and Green socialism. The party's policy emphasises the link between social justice and the environment.

Chairs

 * Claes Andersson (1990–1998)
 * Suvi-Anne Siimes (1998–2006)
 * Martti Korhonen (2006–)