Axel Lille

Axel Lille.

Axel Johan Lille (28 March 1848, Helsinki – 28 June 1921) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish journalist and politician and the main founder of the Swedish People's Party (Svenska folkpartiet, SFP) and its leader 1907–1917. Lille was the first who publicly proposed Finnish independence in his speech on April 9, 1902.

Lille was member of the Diet of Finland for the Estate of Burghers 1885–1900 and member of Parliament of Finland in 1917. He founder newspaper Vikingen, refounded Nya Pressen and was its editor 1906–1914 and for its successor Dagens Press.

Lille was a Social conservative and wished to include more social reforms in SFP's program than eventually was included.