Libera Foundation

Libera Foundation (Finnish: Libera-säätiö, Swedish: Stiftelsen Libera, commonly just Libera) is an independent and non-partisan think tank based in Helsinki, Finland. It was founded in May 2011 by vuorineuvos Gustav von Hertzen and Petri Kajander, who became the foundation's first executive director. The foundation states its mission as supporting and promoting individual freedom, free markets, free entrepreneurship and a free society. It operates as a private foundation funded entirely by donations from individuals, private companies, communities and foundations, and it declares that it accepts no public funding and does not take on consultancy assignments. A significant part of its work is carried out on a voluntary basis, and Libera does not publicly disclose its funders. Libera's activities include communications and publishing as well as organising events. It participates periodically in public debate and has advocated positions such as tuition fees for higher education, the abolition of the child home care allowance, and large cuts to the budget of the Finnish public broadcaster Yle. Its work spans reports, blogs, seminars and its annual Kesäkoulu (Summer School). The foundation describes itself as politically non-aligned, and its reports have criticised both the trade union movement and employer organisations. Among its best-known proposals is the "perustili" (basic account) model, conceived at the think tank by Elina Lepomäki, which would give every adult Finn a basic account seeded with an initial capital of 20,000 euros as part of a comprehensive reform of the income transfer system. In 2013 Libera published the report "Umpikujassa – aika on ajamassa ammattiyhdistysliikkeen ohitse", examining labour market rigidity and proposing the abolition of the trade union movement; a 2015 follow-up, "Edelleen umpikujassa – Aika on ajanut työnantajajärjestöjenkin ohi", turned the same critique on the employer side and proposed abolishing the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK). Other reports have proposed establishing a separate constitutional court, dismantling the Veikkaus gambling monopoly and separating civil society funding from the gambling system, and challenging the general applicability of collective agreements. In September 2018 Libera filed a complaint against the Finnish state with the European Commission, arguing that the way the general applicability of collective agreements is implemented in Finland violates EU internal market rules. Its former executive director Mikko Kiesiläinen argued that Finland's generally applicable collective agreement system "gives large companies cartel-like tools". Libera is led by a board and a small staff. The board chair has been Elina Valtonen (2014–2021), Kim Väisänen (2021–2023) and Eeva Kovanen (2023–). Executive directors have included Petri Kajander (2011–2013), Kristina Pentti-von Walzel (2013–2015), Heikki Pursiainen (2015–2017), Mikko Kiesiläinen (2017–2019) and Lasse Pipinen (2019–). In July 2019 Lasse Pipinen moved from the role of operational director to executive director. Tero Lundstedt serves as content director. In early 2026 the foundation announced it would focus its future activities on the Kesäkoulu summer school.

Libera Foundation was founded in May 2011 by vuorineuvos Gustav von Hertzen and Petri Kajander, who became the foundation's first executive director. It was established as an independent, non-partisan think tank based in Helsinki, with a mission to support and promote individual freedom, free markets, free entrepreneurship and a free society. From the outset it operated as a private foundation funded by donations from individuals, private companies, communities and foundations, and it declared that it would not accept public funding or take on consultancy assignments. The foundation's early years were marked by a series of high-profile policy proposals. In 2013 it published "Umpikujassa – aika on ajamassa ammattiyhdistysliikkeen ohitse", a report examining labour market rigidity that included a proposal to abolish the trade union movement. A 2015 follow-up, "Edelleen umpikujassa – Aika on ajanut työnantajajärjestöjenkin ohi", extended the critique to the employer side and proposed abolishing the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK). Also in this period, Elina Lepomäki developed at the think tank the "perustili" (basic account) model, a comprehensive reform of the income transfer system in which every adult Finn would receive a basic account seeded with 20,000 euros of initial capital. Libera's research output has consistently challenged established structures. Its constitutional report proposed establishing a separate constitutional court in line with international practice, arguing that Finland's constitutional supervision and interpretation function poorly. Its report "Kansalaisyhteiskunnan kultaiset kahleet" argued that Finnish civil society is in practice part of the public sector, endangering the independence of civic activity, and recommended separating civil society grants from the gambling system. The foundation has also advocated dismantling the Veikkaus gambling monopoly, introducing tuition fees for higher education, abolishing the child home care allowance, and making large cuts to Yle's budget. In September 2018 Libera filed a complaint against the Finnish state with the European Commission, arguing that the way the general applicability of collective agreements is implemented in Finland violates EU internal market rules. The complaint used as an example Teknologiateollisuus ry, which had rejected a membership application from a company with fewer than ten employees, thereby preventing that company from benefiting from local bargaining. Libera's then executive director Mikko Kiesiläinen argued that Finland's generally applicable collective agreement system "gives large companies cartel-like tools". Leadership of the foundation has changed several times. Executive directors have included Petri Kajander (2011–2013), Kristina Pentti-von Walzel (2013–2015), Heikki Pursiainen (2015–2017), Mikko Kiesiläinen (2017–2019) and Lasse Pipinen (2019–). In July 2019 Lasse Pipinen moved from the role of operational director to executive director. The board chair has been Elina Valtonen (2014–2021), Kim Väisänen (2021–2023) and Eeva Kovanen (2023–). Tero Lundstedt serves as content director. In early 2026 the foundation announced that it would focus its future activities on the Kesäkoulu summer school, signalling a shift in its programme emphasis.

• Libera Foundation founded in Helsinki by Gustav von Hertzen and Petri Kajander.

• Petri Kajander becomes the first executive director.

• Publication of the report "Umpikujassa – aika on ajamassa ammattiyhdistysliikkeen ohitse" proposing the abolition of the trade union movement.

• Kristina Pentti-von Walzel becomes executive director.

• Elina Valtonen becomes chair of the board.

• Publication of "Edelleen umpikujassa – Aika on ajanut työnantajajärjestöjenkin ohi" proposing the abolition of EK.

• Heikki Pursiainen becomes executive director.

• Mikko Kiesiläinen becomes executive director.

• Libera files a complaint with the European Commission against the Finnish state over the general applicability of collective agreements.

• Lasse Pipinen moves from operational director to executive director.

• Kim Väisänen becomes chair of the board.

• Eeva Kovanen becomes chair of the board.

• Libera announces it will focus its future activities on the Kesäkoulu summer school.

Independent, non-partisan, donation-funded Finnish think tank promoting individual freedom, free markets and free entrepreneurship.

• Perustili (basic account) model

  A comprehensive reform of the income transfer system giving every adult Finn a basic account with 20,000 euros of initial capital, conceived at Libera by Elina Lepomäki.

• Umpikujassa report (2013)

  Report examining labour market rigidity and proposing the abolition of the trade union movement.

• Edelleen umpikujassa report (2015)

  Follow-up report turning the critique on employer organisations and proposing the abolition of EK.

• Constitutional report

  Proposes establishing a separate constitutional court in line with international practice.

• Kansalaisyhteiskunnan kultaiset kahleet report

  Argues Finnish civil society is in practice part of the public sector and recommends separating civil society grants from the gambling system.

• Diktaattorin käsikirja report

  A report on how to defend liberal democracy, supporting measures such as a constitutional court.

• Kesäkoulu summer school

  Annual summer school event; in 2026 announced as the foundation's future focus.

1. 1Ajatuspaja Libera - Sitoutumaton ja itsenäinen ajatuspajalibera.fi
2. 2Libera Foundation - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Libera (ajatushautomo) - Wikipediafi.wikipedia.org