Tampere city council reminds representatives of expected meeting conduct

The city council in Tampere is taking steps to address deteriorating behaviour in its meetings, including personal attacks and misuse of social media, Yle reports.

The council’s leadership will hold a discussion in June to reinforce agreed rules of conduct after reports of increased hostility, off-topic remarks, and violations of a ban on sharing video clips of colleagues’ speeches online. The move follows concerns that previously approved ethical guidelines—unanimously adopted in May 2025—have been ignored.

Council chair Kalervo Kummola (National Coalition Party) told Yle that while decision-making remains unaffected, the tone of debates has worsened. “Everyone should consider what they say to one another,” he said. First deputy chair Sofia Julin (Social Democrats) added that all representatives bear personal responsibility for upholding the rules, noting that cooperation behind closed doors is more constructive than in public sessions.

Second deputy chair Julia Sangervo (Greens) criticised repeated breaches, particularly citing members of the Finns Party for posting edited clips of speeches online—a practice meant to be limited to sharing one’s own remarks. “The intention was to increase transparency, not to misrepresent others,” she said.

Tampere’s council meetings are livestreamed, a practice that has divided opinion. While the city was once known for consensus-based decision-making, recent sessions have seen a shift toward performative debates aimed at voters rather than colleagues.