Ahonen denies influence of altercation on his departure as mayor of Humppila in Finland

Antti Ahonen, who served as the mayor of Humppila, does not believe that a late-night altercation with employees influenced his departure from the position. Ahonen’s tenure in the southwestern Finnish municipality ended in October, but news of his exit was reported for the first time in the summer, citing a lack of leadership skills, particularly in financial matters, as the reason.

Documents obtained reveal that Ahonen’s behavior towards employees was also a factor in his exit, though the specific discussions surrounding this issue were not made public. Kari Ahola, chairman of the Humppila municipal council, stated that accusations regarding Ahonen’s conduct amount to a “he said, she said” situation, suggesting it would be inappropriate to air these matters publicly.

The council addressed concerns about Ahonen’s interactions with employees just a day before the decision was made for him to leave. Tensions heightened on the eve of the Great Kasari Festival, a major event conceived by Ahonen, when he reportedly knocked on the doors of employees who were temporarily lodged in a municipal building.

The incident occurred in May when Ahonen was shopping in Forssa for festival supplies, including bedding for Swedish musicians scheduled to arrive earlier than expected. The arrangement caused disturbances, and perspectives on the events of that night vary between the employees and Ahonen.

The documents also reveal that Ahonen had sent an employee a written warning earlier that evening for failing to fulfill assigned tasks, which he later clarified to be unofficial. Ahonen attributes the reasons for his departure to management issues, worker pressure due to his long hours, and financial concerns.

Upon leaving, Ahonen received a transition payment equivalent to six months’ salary, totaling 40,000 euros, which is now the subject of an appeal to the administrative court. Following his exit, he returned to his previous role as the operational manager for the Satakunta Coalition.