^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Political Parties (Finland)

Left Alliance (Vasemmistoliitto/Vänsterförbundet)
Left Youth (Vasemmistonuoret/Vänsterunga)
Social Democratic Party of Finland (Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue/Finlands Socialdemokratiska Parti)
Socialist Federation (Sosialistiliitto)
Socialist League of Finland (Sosialistiliitto)
Swedish People's Party of Finland (Svenska folkpartiet i Finland/Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue)
Swedish Youth (Svensk Ungdom/Rkp-nuoret)
The Greens (Vihreä liitto/Gröna Förbundet)

See also:

Left Alliance

Vasemmistoliitto/Vänsterförbundet (VAS)

image by M. Schmöger, 03 May 2015

The VAS was founded in 1990 as (more or less) a successor to the SKDL, a left alliance dominated by the Finnish communists, the SKP. Originally, it could reach about 20 seats in the 200-seat parliament, but dropped to 12 seats in the 2015 elections.
The former symbol, used until about 2010, showed a bird flying to the left, its wings forming a distinct "V" hinting to the V in the party name in both languages. This symbol is also used on the flags.
The main flag is divided diagonally wavy of red over green and shows the "V"-shaped symbol in white in the center [1,2,3,4,5,6]. The red-green diagonal pattern is a reference to the flags of the SKDL, that will be discussed in separate mails. Some of the flags show additional red streamers with white inscription, presumably distinguishing different party branches [4,6].
Another version is a triangular-shaped banner, red with the "V"-shaped symbol in white [7].
Sources:
[1] http://www.arjenhistoria.fi/actions/objectinfo.php?id=1006672
[2] http://www.kansanuutiset.fi/images/articleimages/3196232.jpg
[3] http://www.vasemmistoliittoloimaa.fi/SIRA_Files/images/_mg_4015.jpg
http://joensuu.vas.fi/files/2013/05/vappumarssi2013.jpg
[4] http://cstom.hu/vappu2010/DSC_7820.jpg
[5] http://www.keravanvasemmisto.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/IMG_2491-0.jpg
[6] http://cstom.hu/vappu2010/DSC_7772.jpg
[7] http://www.12.fi/viikkosanomat/2008/10/28/kuvat/DSCI8309d20081025punalippuosa900shsh.JPG
M. Schmöger, 03 May 2015

Left Youth

Vasemmistonuoret/Vänsterunga

image by M. Schmöger, 04 May 2015

Vasemmistonuoret is the youth branch of the Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance). Under this name it was founded in 1998, as a successor to the SDNL.
The symbol shows a worker with megaphone, in black on a yellowish circle. The flag is brown/maroon with the symbol over the organization name in black [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10].
Sources:
[1] https://static.ylilauta.org/files/qo/orig/4u0jrpc4/punikki.jpg
[2] http://cstom.hu/vappu2010/DSC_7835.jpg
[3] http://www.taitaja2008.com/docimages/liittari2005_marssi_netti.jpg
[4] https://kuopionvasemmistonuoret.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/p5161011.jpg
[5] http://files.kotisivukone.com/jussi.ehdolla.fi/kuvat/sotademo05.jpg
[6] http://www.vasemmistonuoret.fi/images/uploads/Vaellus2012.JPG
[7] https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDHsM4bWMAAYRx-.jpg:large
[8] https://www.flickr.com/photos/44429096@N02/4085315823
[9] http://www.vasemmistonuoret.fi/images/uploads/vappu08.jpg
[10] http://www.vasenkaista.fi/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Vasemmistonuoret_Lippu_900x600_CM.jpg
M. Schmöger, 04 May 2015

Social Democratic Party of Finland

Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue/Finlands Socialdemokratiska Parti

image by M. Schmöger, 28 June 2015

Beach flags:

image by M. Schmöger, 28 June 2015

The SDP is a social-democratic party, founded in 1899 and adopted the current name in 1903. It has been one of the strongest parties in Finland for over a century, usually represented in the government coalitions. The SDP currently holds 34 seats in the 200-seat parliament, rather a drop compared to 63 seats in 1995.
The current logo was adopted in 2010 [1] and shows the party abbreviation in white on a red field that represents a stylized rose petal.
The first of the current flags is vertical, white with the logo in the top [2,3]. A shorter version of this also exists [4].
The red variant comes as a vertical flag with the logo fimbriated white; this might include reference to a candidate, in this case a certain Matti Meikäläinen (the Finnish equivalent to John Doe or Max Mustermann) [5].
A beach flag version in red is also very popular [6,7,8,9].
Furthermore, there are portrait flags also in the beach flag format [3,9].
Sources:
[1] http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-1288337358557.html
[2] http://www.stereomeedia.ee/gallery/medium/149_sdp_7m.jpg
[3] https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCYY45JUMAAcDjr.jpg
[4] http://www.lansivayla.fi/sites/default/files/styles/article/public/demarilippu.jpg
[5] http://kotisivukone.fi/files/teltta-teltat.kotisivukone.com/teltta-teltat-kuvat/puolueteltat/pop-up-puolue-teltta-sdp-white-v2.jpg
[6] http://korso.sdp.fi/wp-content/uploads/sites/252/2013/09/WP_20130915_008.jpg
[7] http://img.yle.fi/uutiset/talous/article5639444.ece/ALTERNATES/w480h270/sdp%20kampanja%20standi
[8] http://www.suomenmaa.fi/etusivu/7416677_900.jpg
[9] http://kotka.sdp.fi/wp-content/uploads/sites/124/2014/05/3-eu-vaalit-18.5.-2014.jpg

A couple of additional photos for the white flag, shorter version [10,11,12].
Furthermore, the "plain" version of the red flag can be seen here [13].
And the beach flag comes in a white version as well [14,15].
Sources:
[10] http://hs13.snstatic.fi/webkuva/taysi/1920/1305960466379
[11] http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dJSdphVRjW0/UeqLdfoZdJI/AAAAAAAAAH0/RJHZhV0FW8E/s1600/Waltari4IMG_3619.jpg
[12] http://demokraatti.fi/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/06/puoluetoimisto1-800x533.jpg
[13] http://sdpturku.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/reijo_vsuo-225x300.jpg
[14] https://www.flickr.com/photos/dohogu/8148734598/
[15] https://www.flickr.com/photos/demarit/4702111169/
M. Schmöger, 28 June 2015

The former logo of the SDP (about 2007-2010) was rectangular, red fimbriated white with the white inscription "SDP". The flag hoisted in front of the party HQ was vertical, red with the logo in top and several thin white lines crisscrossing the flag [16,17,18].

image by M. Schmöger, 28 June 2015

Before that, the white inscription on the red logo was made of a font with serifes. A flag hoisted in front of the party HQ was vertical with the logo in base, in chief a stylized red rose [19,20].

image by M. Schmöger, 28 June 2015

Sources:
[16] http://kuvat.uusisuomi.fi/sites/default/files/kuvat/3I3X8241.JPG
[17] http://img.yle.fi/uutiset/arkisto/article5568976.ece/ALTERNATES/w480h270/SDP%20lippu%20puoluelippu%20puoluetoimisto%20hakaniemi
[18] https://www.google.de/maps/place/Saariniemenkatu+6,+00530+Helsinki,+Finnland/@60.178241,24.946884,3a,75y,272h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sp6JLPGmeSOzlvgEk53fYBA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26output%3Dthumbnail%26thumb%3D2%26panoid%3Dp6JLPGmeSOzlvgEk53fYBA%26w%3D374%26h%3D75%26yaw%3D272%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D120%26ll%3D60.178241,24.946884!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x46920bd35d4af8e9:0xca724adb52f5978d!6m1!1e1
[19] https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilkkaluoma/459184635
[20] http://img.yle.fi/uutiset/arkisto/article5242982.ece/ALTERNATES/w960/puoluekannatus_demarit.jpg
M. Schmöger, 28 June 2015

Socialist Federation

Sosialistiliitto

image by M. Schmöger, 10 May 2015

The Sosialistiliitto (SL) is a Trotskyist party in Finland, founded in 1995 as Kommunistinuoret (Communist Youth), changing its name to the current one around 1998/2000. It is not clear if the party still exists. SL has only sporadically participated in elections, mainly by supporting leftist candidates of different brands. The party is affiliated to the International Socialist Tendency (IST).
The symbol therefore is the fist, used also by other IST branches, charged with the party abbreviation "SL". The flag is red with the party symbol in black [1,2]. Most (or all) of the flags look homemade.
Sources: http://cstom.hu/vappu2010/DSC_7845.jpg
http://www.helsinki.fi/jarj/sosialistiliitto/liput.jpg
M. Schmöger, 10 May 2015

Socialist League of Finland

Sosialistiliitto

image by Marcus Wendel, 25 August 1999

The flag of the Sosialistiliitto [Socialist league of Finland]
Marcus Wendel, 25 August 1999

Swedish People's Party of Finland

Svenska folkpartiet i Finland (SFP) / Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (RKP)

image by M. Schmöger, 02 May 2015

The SFP is the main party of the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland. Founded in 1906, it is a centrist and liberal party, member of the Liberal International and the ALDE. It consistently reaches about 10 seats in the 200-seat parliament of Finland, thus currently being the seventh-largest party with nine seats.
A flag used in 1982 is sourced only by a black-and-white photograph [1], so I am not sure about the colours. It is a hanging flag (ratio about 10:7) with three indentations at the bottom. The background of he flag is darker, the party abbreviation (SFP) is shown in a lighter colour in somewhat cubic letters. The "F" is very much elongated, so that the whole inscription forms a Scandinavian cross (rotated, though).
The current symbol combines a stylized ladybeetle (in red and black) with the party abbreviation in Swedish and Finnish, both in light blue, on a white field. The flag used is a beach flag with the symbol rotated [2,3,4].

image by M. Schmöger, 02 May 2015

As the party was founded in 1906, there was a centenary to celebrate in 2006. The flag devised for this was a table banner [5] that showed in base the inscription "sfp" in lower-case letters over the smaller inscription "1906-2006", all in light blue on white; in chief there was a purple field with the golden Finnish lion from the coat-of-arms.
Sources:
[1] http://areena-v3.yle.fi/static/mk/images/previews/1d/1d780f0b6ae44776ba279d584cbf06be/49971_preview_620.jpg
[2] http://sverigesradio.se/sida/images/83/3502829_2048_1152.jpg
[3] http://www.sfpivanda.fi/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/korvsoppa3.jpg
[4] http://www.sfpivanda.fi/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/korvsoppa1.jpg
[5] standar2.jpg (image disappeared from WWW, since I had downloaded it)
M. Schmöger, 02 May 2015

Considering that the party represents the Swedish-speaking people, and comparing the shades of gray with those of Finnish national flag, which is also shown in the photo, the first idea to suggest itself is that the flag is in Swedish national colors - yellow charges on blue field.
Tomislav Todoroviæ, 03 May 2015

This was my first idea as well, but we do not know for sure. It is also possible that it's yellow on red, like the flag of the Swedish minority in Finland.
M. Schmöger, 03 May 2015

Still in some use in 2012, apparently.
http://www.aldeparty.eu/en/news/carl-haglund-takes-reins-svenska-folkpartiet
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 03 May 2015

I have a photo in full color and the flag is red with stylized yellow letters.
Jaume Ollé, 08 May 2015

image by M. Schmöger, 10 May 2015

In the meantime, I have found a catalogue of SFP's medals and decorations, where there is a photograph of a table banner with two tongues and tassles that is used as a decoration.
The text in the catalogue translates to:
"miniature banner with silver plaque. Instituted in 1959. Granted to party members who have made particularly noteworthy and longstanding efforts in party work on at least county level. Can also be granted to a member association or other entity within the party or organization outside the party."
This is basically the same flag as the large version reported earlier by me, and confirmed by others. So, tentatively, this flag (in the large and the miniature version) can be dated back to at least 1959.
Source: http://www.sfp.fi/sites/default/files/Dokument/sfp-foertjaensttecken.pdf
M. Schmöger, 10 May 2015

Swedish Youth

Svensk Ungdom/Rkp-nuoret

image by M. Schmöger, 10 May 2015

Svensk Ungdom is the youth branch of the SFP, founded in 1943. The flag is a beach flag type and shows the organization's name (in white) on a unicoloured (blue or magenta) field [1,2].

Sources: [1] http://cdn1.hssmedia.fi/Newsmedia/2014/07/26/980/OM_IMG_20140726_122819.jpg
[2] http://hbl.fi/sites/default/files/styles/block_630x352/public/2014/04/web-transport_2.jpeg?itok=u1mN9O4R&stmp=1398591055
M. Schmöger, 10 May 2015

The Greens / Green League (Vihreät)

VIHR - Vihreä liitto/Gröna Förbundet

image by M. Schmöger, 14 May 2015

The Greens were founded in 1987, absorbing a couple of green organisations over time. They currently hold 15 seats in the 200-seat parliament. They participated in several government coalitions.
The symbol is simply the short party name in Finnish and Swedish (Vihreät De Gröna), in white on green (or vice versa). The flags are green with the white inscription. I have found three versions of the flag:
- a triangular pennant [1,2]
- a rectangular vertical flag [3]
- a beach flag [4,5,6]
Furthermore, there are portrait flags also in the beach flag format [7].
Sources:
[1] http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vihreiden_vaaliteltta_Isolla_Roballa.jpg
[2] https://www.vihreat.fi/files/liitto/images/pyorailystartti.jpg
[3] http://www.hameenlinnanvihreat.fi/files/2015/01/torilla.jpg
[4] http://yhdistykset.vihreat.fi/vihdin.vihreat/files/2012/08/vuosisatamarkkinat-3.jpg
[5] http://yhdistykset.vihreat.fi/vihdin.vihreat/files/2012/08/vuosisatamarkkinat-6.jpg
[6] http://henkilot.vihreat.fi/tuija.ollikkala/files/2012/09/L10000233.jpg
[7] http://www.aaltovihreat.fi/wp-content/10420049_864487536946244_7686898904103909170_n.jpg
M. Schmöger, 14 May 2015

This source [6] suggests that there is also a flag for the women's wing of the party.
Tomislav Todoroviæ, 14 May 2015

This might spawn a discussion on "what is a flag?" and "what kind of flags should we consider for FOTW?".
This image does indeed show advertising material of the women's wing, but this is a roll-up screen, and not really a flag (IMHO). The problem is of course, that particularly with political parties, the boundaries between flags and other advertisement material are definitely blurred. Many vexillologists would, for instance, not consider the beach flags or teardrop flags as real flags at all. And a lot of others would not even consider the different types of vertical flags, that are so commonplace in Germany, Austria etc., as flags proper.
M. Schmöger, 15 May 2015

Recently, I have encountered a similar problem with the flag-like images which are used as a sort of online counterparts of the flags and have asked the same question.
This is how it looked to me, too, but its design suggests the possibility of a flag's existence.
The vertical flags seem to be generally accepted as flags proper, at FOTW at least - they certainly are used as the flags. Regarding the beach flags, or teardrop flags, or feather flags (the last of these names is actually the first one I have encountered), I have had a similar dilemma about them when exploring some political parties in Sweden (National Democrats, for instance, make an extensive use of these) and have left the others to report about them.
This is also similar to the distinction between the flags and wall decorations (pulldowns etc.), or the flags and demostration posters, and so forth. In each case, we have to look carefully for the details which might reveal if it is really a flag.
Tomislav Todorovic