Matti Muukkonen files complaint against Anna Abrahamsson over tobacco law preparations in Finland

Matti Muukkonen, an associate professor of public law and administrative law, has filed a complaint with the Chancellor of Justice concerning the preparation of the tobacco law. The complaint targets Anna Abrahamsson, a former special assistant to MEP Anna-Maja Henriksson. Following the approval of the tobacco law, Helsingin Sanomat reported that nicotine pouch flavors produced by the Pietarsaari-based Habit Factory were included in the government’s tobacco law proposal at the initiative of the Swedish People’s Party (RKP). According to Muukkonen, Abrahamsson, in her capacity as Henriksson’s special assistant, facilitated the inclusion of these flavors in the discussions.

Muukkonen is requesting the Chancellor of Justice to investigate whether Abrahamsson breached her official duties. He stressed that special assistants also operate under public responsibility, stating, “In principle, they are civil servants, even if they act on a political mandate chosen by ministers.” He argues that the accountability of assistants should be the same as that of other civil servants.

Muukkonen is an associate professor at the University of Lapland and an administrative law lecturer at the University of Helsinki. He ran as a candidate for the Liberal Party in the last parliamentary elections. Recently, it was reported that a police report has also been filed against Abrahamsson. Furthermore, complaints have been made against Anna-Maja Henriksson and Social Insurance Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, who presented the tobacco law to Parliament.

Reports indicate that Grahn-Laasonen may have misused her position by favoring a single entrepreneur in promoting the law related to nicotine pouches. She has claimed that she was unaware the flavors were produced by only one company. By now, a total of four complaints have been filed regarding the nicotine pouch legislation.