The National Progressive Party (; ) was a liberal political party in Finland from 1918 to 1951. The party was founded 8 December 1918, after the Finnish Civil War, by the republican majority of the Young Finnish Party and the republican minority of the Finnish Party (the next day the monarchists of both parties founded the National Coalition Party.)

In December 1918, the National Progressive Party adopted a social liberal programme that contained a wide range of progressive proposals. Amongst others,NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE PARTY PROGRAMME (Approved at the founding meeting in Helsinki on 8 December 1918) (In Finnish) these included land reform, state job creation work and unemployment schemes, state participation in the provision of housing-building schemes and compulsory sickness insurance pensions, legislation guaranteeing contracts, conditions of work and a minimum wage, and a progressive income and wealth tax to pay for this social reform programme. As noted by one study, “The spirit of the NPP’s programme, in short, was clearly that of social liberalism.”Liberal Parties in Western Europe Edited by Emil J. Kirchner, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1988, P.346-347 Later programmes adopted by the National Progressive Party contained a number of reformist proposals as well.National Progressive Party programmes from 1918-1945 (In Finnish)

Famous members of the party included Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg and Risto Ryti, the first and fifth Presidents of Finland, and Sakari Tuomioja.

The National Progressive Party finished its existence in early 1951, as most of its active members had joined the People's Party of Finland. A minority group including Sakari Tuomioja founded the Liberal League.

Election results

+ Parliament of Finland Date Votes Seats Position Size No. % ± pp No. ± 1919 123,090 12.81 New New 4th 1922 79,676 9.21 3.60 11 6th 1924 79,937 9.09 0.12 2 6th 1927 61,613 6.77 2.32 7 6th 1929 53,301 5.60 1.17 3 6th 1930 65,830 5.83 0.23 3 5th 1933 82,129 7.41 1.58 1 5th 1936 73,654 6.28 1.13 4 6th 1939 62,387 4.81 1.47 1 6th 1945 87,868 5.17 0.36 3 6th 1948 73,444 3.91 1.26 4 6th 1951Did not run.

See also Liberal Party – Freedom to Choose Liberalism and centrism in Finland

References