Center-right party founded as the Finnish Christian Union by leaders and members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and supporters of 'Christian revival' and free churches. Party began as a protest movement against growing secularization in Finland and grew to defend traditional Finnish values it felt were under threat. Party was renamed the Finnish Christian Democrats rp (also known as "Finnish Christian rp") and redefined itself as a supporter of Christian democracy, which it sees as a method of dialogue between religion and politics, entrepreneurism and individual freedoms. Party has been chaired by athlete and 2012 presidential candidate Sari Essayah since August 29, 2015 [Suomen Kristillisdemokraatit; Swedish: Kristdemokraterna i Finland (KD or Finnish Christian rp); Finnish Christian Democrats]
