Finland’s finance ministry requests statements from eight municipalities on Ähtäri merger plan

The Finnish Ministry of Finance has asked eight municipalities to submit statements by early June on a potential municipal restructuring involving the financially struggling town of Ähtäri, reports public broadcaster Yle. The ministry has proposed legal expert Eero Laesterä as the investigator for the case.

Ähtäri’s mayor, Perttu Sonninen, confirmed that the ministry’s request marks the start of preparations, though no final decision has been made. “Until an official decision is reached, everything remains open,” Sonninen said.

The municipalities asked to provide statements are Alajärvi, Alavus, Keuruu, Multia, Saarijärvi, Soini, Virrat, and Ähtäri itself—the same group Ähtäri previously invited to voluntary negotiations. Seinäjoki, which declined earlier talks, was not included in the ministry’s request.

Sonninen declined to speculate on whether the municipalities’ responses would differ from Ähtäri’s earlier stance opposing forced mergers. “I won’t speak for other municipalities—they will express their own perspectives,” he said, noting that the ministry retains the authority to compel negotiations if necessary.

Statements must be submitted by early June, after which the ministry will decide whether to proceed with a formal restructuring review. Ähtäri will also submit its own statement shortly and prepare its next steps based on the updated framework.

If approved, the review would run from June 8, 2026, to November 30, 2026. Sonninen emphasized that Ähtäri will continue normal operations until decisions are finalized.

Eero Laesterä, proposed as the investigator, has previously led similar reviews, including cases in Kyyjärvi and between Pertunmaa and Mäntyharju.