Constitutional Right Party

Constitutional Right Party

The Constitutional Right Party (Finnish: Perustuslaillinen Oikeistopuolue) was a conservative political party in Finland. The party was founded in 1973 by the parliamentarian Georg C. Ehrnrooth as a right-wing split from the Swedish People's Party (SFP). The party had around 4,000 members.[1] Until 1980 the party was known as the Constitutional People's Party (Finnish: Perustuslaillinen Kansanpuolue, Swedish: Konstitutionella Folkpartiet). The party was founded as a response to SFP and the only major right-wing party, National Coalition, backing the re-election of President Urho Kekkonen by emergency law, simply for convenience and despite the lack of any national emergency. Ehrnroot saw this as a sign of Finlandization, and held that the constitution was being circumvented and the people left out of the process.

The party contested the 1975 parliament election, obtaining 1.6% of the national vote and winning one seat. In the 1979 parliament election the party won 1.2% of the votes but no seat.[1] The most seats the party ever held were two (1973-75 and 1986-87), although in both cases, one seat was gained by a defection.

Contents

Leaders

Chairmen

  • Ilpo Järvinen 1973–1974[2]
  • Georg C. Ehrnrooth 1974–1992[2][3]
  • Erkki Enberg 1992–1993[3]
  • Tapio Väisänen 1993–?[4]

Party secretaries

  • Peter Kankkonen
  • Panu Toivonen 1982–1990[5][6]
  • Ulla Bogdanoff 1990–?[5]

Vice chairmen

  • Kullervo Rainio 1978–1980[7]
  • Markku Pietikäinen (1.) 1986–?[8]
  • Tuula Heiman (2.) 1986–?[8]
  • Matti Järviharju 1988–?[5]
  • Pentti Taavitsainen 1990–?[5]

Elections

Results
Parliament
Year MPs Votes
1975 1 45 402 1.65%
1979 0 34 958 1.21%
1983 1 11 104 0.37%
1987 0 3 096 0.11%
1991 0 7 599 0.28%
Local council
Year Councillors Votes
1976 14 23 076 0.86%
1980 8 13 478 0.49%
1984 5 9 858 0.37%
1988 1 4 672 0.18%
1992 1 4 233 0.16%

References

  1. ^ a b Wende, Frank. Lexikon zur Geschichte der Parteien in Europa. Stuttgart: Kröner, 1981. p. 156
  2. ^ a b Eero Ojanen: Koivisto Need Not Be Criticized in Finland (Helsingin Sanomat 20.10.1983) teoksessa JPRS West Europe Report 21.11.1983 U.S. Foreign Broadcast Information Service
  3. ^ a b Pop ei ole enää piikki porvareiden lihassa Helsingin Sanomat 10.5.1992
  4. ^ Perustuslaillisille uusi johtaja Helsingin Sanomat 23.4.1993
  5. ^ a b c d Perustuslaillisten puoluesihteeri vaihtui Helsingin Sanomat 8.5.1990
  6. ^ Metsänhoitaja Panu Toivonen Helsingin Sanomat 8.9.2006
  7. ^ Kullervo Rainio Jyväskylän kaupunginkirjasto
  8. ^ a b Marit Ingves: Ehrnrooth: ”Resolutions Do Not Control Terrorism” (Hufvudstadsbladet 27.4.1986) teoksessa JPRS West Europe Report 25.6.1986 U.S. Foreign Broadcast Information Service