| Description | Center-right, agrarian-interests party founded in 1906 as the Agrarian Union (Maalaisliitto, ML) and renamed in 1988 the Center Party of Finland [Suomen Keskusta (keskusta or Kesk.)], following the renaming trend of 'agrarian' parties to 'center' that spread through Europe beginning in the 50s. Party was founded by Santeri Alkio who is also the party's idealogue, penning a theory called 'embryonism', which essentially sees a nation progress only when the rural poor get richer. Party has been in almost every government, mostly in coalition, since 1917, and can tout twelve prime ministers. Party received its largest ever presence in Parliament with 55 MPs after the economic recession of 1991, collapsing to 35 after elections held in 2011. Party is chaired by the Minister of Finance and Southwest Finland MP, Annika Saarikko. |
