Aittakumpu becomes first known Old Lutheran member of Finnish Parliament after switching to Finns Party

Pekka Aittakumpu, who recently switched from the Centre Party to the Finns Party, is likely the first known member of the Finnish Parliament with Old Lutheran beliefs. The Finns Party’s parliamentary group plans to discuss Aittakumpu’s membership request on Thursday. Having previously served as a pastor, Aittakumpu was also the acting editor-in-chief of the central organization for Old Lutherans, Suomen Rauhanyhdistysten keskusyhdistys, and its publication, Päivämies.

Historically, the Centre Party has been the primary political party for Old Lutherans. According to Tuomas Äystö, a university lecturer at the University of Helsinki, traditional voting patterns show that Old Lutherans have primarily supported the Centre Party, along with some support for the National Coalition Party and the Christian Democrats. However, the distinctions between suitable and unsuitable parties have softened over the last fifty years.

Aittakumpu justified his switch by expressing challenges in advocating for his values within the Centre Party, noting he feels a stronger resonance with the Finns Party, appreciating their willingness to discuss difficult issues. Äystö’s research indicates that members of the Centre, National Coalition, Social Democratic Party, and Swedish People’s Party have used the least religious language in parliamentary discussions, highlighting a potential disconnect for those wishing to freely express religious views.

The Centre Party, particularly in the Oulu electoral district, where Aittakumpu is from, is concerned about losing votes from the Old Lutheran community, especially given their significant impact during elections. While Aittakumpu received around 7,200 votes in the last election, it remains unclear if his supporters will follow him to the Finns Party or rally behind another Centre candidate. The Centre Party has historically benefited from Old Lutheran votes, a factor that adds to the concern within their party machinery.