Kaskinen investigates mayor after three women report inappropriate conduct

Yle has reported that three women have described what they experienced as inappropriate conduct by Kaskinen Mayor Markku Lumio. The women say he has made comments about their appearance, hugged them and sent suggestive messages.

According to Yle, hearings involving the women and Lumio were held last week. The city executive board is expected to discuss the matter on Monday, although it was not listed on the agenda published on Thursday.

All three women told Yle that Lumio’s behaviour had been intrusive and that he tried to get too close to them. They said he hugged them on minor pretexts and repeatedly commented on their clothes and appearance.

One woman said Lumio had called her names including fairy, bride, riding girl and schoolgirl. The women said they had changed the way they dressed in the hope of avoiding the attention they found distressing.

One woman said Lumio had invited her to his office under the pretext of discussing a work matter, but the meeting had unexpectedly become personal and uncomfortable. She said the behaviour began in autumn 2023 and had continued since then.

Another woman said Lumio had asked in spring 2025 for permission to take a photograph of her for his personal use. She also described instances in which he suddenly commented on her appearance during meetings.

Yle has seen messages exchanged between Lumio and one woman who experienced what she considered inappropriate conduct. Yle could not independently verify one woman’s claim that Lumio showed her a sex video.

The women said the incidents often occurred when they were alone with Lumio. In some cases, other people were present, but the women said no one intervened.

Lumio confirmed to Yle that he attended a hearing last Friday. He denied the allegations, saying most of the claims were untrue and that he had responded to all of them in writing.

Lumio became Kaskinen’s mayor in 2022. Earlier that year, he resigned as mayor of Kauhava after saying he no longer felt able to perform the role because of a loss of confidence. Kauhava had established a temporary committee to examine his position after he was suspected of sexually suggestive harassment of women.

Yle said it is naming Lumio because the matter is of significant public interest and he is the city’s highest-ranking official. The women are not named because they are private individuals, and some of them are subordinate to the mayor.