Pelkosenniemi council ousts top vote-getter Laura Lakso

Pelkosenniemi municipal council has voted to remove Laura Lakso (Centre Party) from the municipal board, stripping her of both the chairmanship and her seat, Yle reports.

A temporary committee, appointed by the council in April, recommended the dismissal of the entire board leadership, which under Finnish law required the removal of both Lakso and deputy chair Timo Tossavainen (Centre Party).

The council approved the dismissal on Monday in a 9–4 vote. Tossavainen was then elected as the new board chair, with Eeva Airas (Left Alliance) as deputy chair.

Lakso had been the municipality’s top vote-getter in the local elections, securing over a quarter of all votes cast in Pelkosenniemi—the highest share nationwide.

Political disputes in Pelkosenniemi have previously disrupted council meetings and stalled layoff negotiations. A separate temporary committee is also reviewing trust in acting municipal manager Mikko Merikanto, appointed in February 2025.