Council forms committee to investigate chairman Antti Mäkituomas in Pellon, Finland

The lack of confidence in the chairman of the Pellon municipal council led to the establishment of a temporary committee just over six months before the council term ends. On Monday, the council narrowly voted 9-8 in favor of forming the committee, aimed at potentially dismissing Chairman Antti Mäkituomas (Centre Party).

The mistrust towards Mäkituomas is linked to his actions in local electric companies, with criticisms arising from his push for the removal of businessman Jukka Kristo from company boards due to allegations of human trafficking which may harm their reputation. Mäkituomas expressed frustration that the reasons for his mistrust remain vague: “It’s been implied there are other reasons, but I haven’t been informed of what they are. This inevitably creates a Kafkaesque atmosphere where a person is accused of a crime that is not disclosed.”

Simo Keränen (Left Alliance), the chairman of the temporary committee, stated that part of the mistrust towards Mäkituomas is indeed related to the electric companies, but emphasized that it is not a retaliatory move; rather, his actions are deemed harmful to the municipality.

Countering this view, Tarmo Uusitalo (Centre Party), who opposed the formation of the committee, argued that no substantial reasons have been presented beyond distrust, suggesting the committee could conclude no valid basis for dismissal.

The temporary committee will investigate the situation by interviewing involved parties and will present its findings to the council. Mäkituomas indicated he would appeal to the administrative court if dismissed following the committee’s recommendations, asserting that he has no reason to be removed.