Peltomaa gives up Pomarkku board chairmanship and election bid

Kaarlo Peltomaa has asked to step down as chair of Pomarkku’s municipal executive board following his criminal conviction and is withdrawing as a Centre Party parliamentary candidate in Satakunta, Yle reports. He plans to remain a member of the board.

In October, the Satakunta District Court sentenced Peltomaa for an animal welfare offence to 60 days’ suspended imprisonment and a five-year ban on keeping animals. Inspections at his farm found, among other things, undernourished cattle.

Peltomaa said his decision was intended to keep discussion in the municipal council and during the parliamentary election campaign focused on issues important to the municipality and the region. He said campaign events might otherwise have focused on his conviction, which he described as less important to Satakunta.

The 43-year-old will retain his other positions of trust, including his seat on the regional council. Immediately after the conviction, he had said he did not intend to give up those positions.