Socialist Unity Party (Finland)
Encyclopedia
Socialist Unity Party was a left-wing political party in Finland
. The SYP was founded in March 1946 by socialists working inside the communist-dominated Finnish People's Democratic League
(SKDL). Most of the founders were former members of the Social Democratic Party of Finland
(SDP). The SYP had many known politicians in its ranks but it never became a mass party. In 1955, the party split from the SKDL and died soon afterwards.
The founders of the SYP included the so called "socialist six" (in Finnish "kuutoset") who were expelled from the SDP parliamentary group in 1940 before the summer 1941 Continuation War
against Soviet Union. Another important group was the former "peace opposition
" which split from the SDP after the war. In autumn 1946 two members of the SDP parliamentary group joined the SYP/SKDL. Some of the socialists working inside the SKDL never joined the SYP.
The first chairman of the SYP was J.W. Keto, former leader of the peace opposition. He was succeeded by Atos Wirtanen
in 1948. In 1955, Wirtanen organized an extraordinary party congress in which it was decided that the SYP would leave SKDL. The congress, however, was held under somewhat shady conditions. The secretary of the congress was Wirtanen's wife and no representatives from the important Southern Workers Organization of Helsinki were present. Many leading members and sections of the SYP dismissed the congress, left the party and continued their work inside the SKDL.
The SYP organ was Vapaa Pohjola, a weekly newspaper which was published until 1949 and edited by Ensio Hiitonen. In 1952, the SYP published nine issues of the paper Yhteisrintama (United front). During the summer of 1955, the party had a paper called Veckoposten.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. The SYP was founded in March 1946 by socialists working inside the communist-dominated Finnish People's Democratic League
Finnish People's Democratic League
Finnish People's Democratic League was a Finnish political organisation with the aim of uniting those left of the Finnish Social Democratic Party...
(SKDL). Most of the founders were former members of the Social Democratic Party of Finland
Social Democratic Party of Finland
The Social Democratic Party of Finland is one of the three major political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the National Coalition Party. Jutta Urpilainen is the current SDP leader. The party has been in the Finnish government cabinet for long periods and has set many...
(SDP). The SYP had many known politicians in its ranks but it never became a mass party. In 1955, the party split from the SKDL and died soon afterwards.
The founders of the SYP included the so called "socialist six" (in Finnish "kuutoset") who were expelled from the SDP parliamentary group in 1940 before the summer 1941 Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
against Soviet Union. Another important group was the former "peace opposition
Peace opposition
Peace opposition is a term used to describe a Finnish cross-party movement uniting both bourgeois politicians like Paasikivi, Kekkonen, Sakari Tuomioja etc. and social democrats, aiming at stepping out of the war and finding a way to conclude peace with the Soviet Union...
" which split from the SDP after the war. In autumn 1946 two members of the SDP parliamentary group joined the SYP/SKDL. Some of the socialists working inside the SKDL never joined the SYP.
The first chairman of the SYP was J.W. Keto, former leader of the peace opposition. He was succeeded by Atos Wirtanen
Atos Wirtanen
Atos Kasimir Wirtanen was a Finnish left-wing intellectual, journalist, member of Finnish parliament and cultural critic. He was born in Saltvik. Wirtanen rose to parliament from the Social Democratic Party of Finland list, but in 1946 he defected to the Finnish People's Democratic League...
in 1948. In 1955, Wirtanen organized an extraordinary party congress in which it was decided that the SYP would leave SKDL. The congress, however, was held under somewhat shady conditions. The secretary of the congress was Wirtanen's wife and no representatives from the important Southern Workers Organization of Helsinki were present. Many leading members and sections of the SYP dismissed the congress, left the party and continued their work inside the SKDL.
The SYP organ was Vapaa Pohjola, a weekly newspaper which was published until 1949 and edited by Ensio Hiitonen. In 1952, the SYP published nine issues of the paper Yhteisrintama (United front). During the summer of 1955, the party had a paper called Veckoposten.