The Left Youth of FinlandRESISTANCE IS PERMITTED. IN FACT IT IS DESIRED.The Left Youth of Finland (Vasemmistonuoret) is an energetic non-governmental political youth organisation. The political objectives of The Left Youth derive from an ideological basis of traditional values of the left combined with environmental initiatives. To achieve its objectives The Left Youth promotes various forms of political activity: demonstrations are regarded as equally worthwhile as operating within the limits of party politics. The constitutive values of The Left Youth consist of equality, democracy, justice and solidarity. In our view, rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of expression and the right to cherish one's own culture should be granted to everyone, regardless of ethnic origin, or of social, economic or political background. We in The Left Youth consider an ideal society - an ideal world - to be a place, in which every individual can live without fear and in which every individual is granted the right, as well as the possibility, to study and work. In addition, healthy and clean environment should be considered a right everyone is entitled to in a society. To live a good and satisfying life requires the abilities to share work, to be a responsible consumer, and to understand the importance of societal obligations, such as taxes, as fundamental factors contributing to welfare. The Left Youth of Finland was founded in 1944. Currently the organisation has some 5,000 members and is divided into nine district organisations. Anyone between 15 and 30 years of age is eligible for full membership of The Left Youth. People over 30 years of age are eligible for supportive membership. President of The Left Youth from May 2007 to May 2009 is Mr Jussi Saramo, a 27-year-old elected member of the city council of Porvoo. The two vice-presidents of the organisation are Ms Suvi Turunen and Mr Ilkka Tillanen . The central governing body of The Left Youth consists of 20 members, and is elected every two years by The Left Youth's general assembly. The current board has founded eight political or organisational divisions to carry out our various activities and to discuss political issues. The divisions of international affairs, organisational development and ideological education, sustainable development, culture, economy politics, social and health politics, Palestine solidarity campaign and trade union politics cover a wide range of our current interests in The Left Youth. The division of international affairs handles all international affairs and relations. The current chairperson of the division is Ms Petra Erkkilä. The Left Youth of Finland is defined as the youth organisation of the Left Alliance party (Vasemmistoliitto). At the moment Left Alliance is the 4th biggest political party in Finland, the three biggest being the Centre Party, the National Coalition Party and the Social Democratic Party. In the last parliamentary elections (2007) Left Alliance received 8,8% of the votes. The party currently has 17MPs in the Finnish Parliament and one MEP in the European Parliament. Two representatives of Left Youth were elected to the Finnish Parliament in 2007, Merja Kyllönen and Paavo Arhinmäki. Young members form a considerable part of the active members of Left Alliance: currently in municipal or city councils throughout Finland there are 55 elected representatives of Left Alliance who are under 30 years of age. Contact information: |