Kemijärvi city council closes misconduct case against councilor Hietanen

In the local politics of Kemijärvi, a case involving a member of the municipal council has been officially closed after allegations of misconduct were made against him. Tuula Kuvaja, the city’s acting director of administration and development, reported in February that councilor Matti Hietanen (Finns Party) had exhibited inappropriate behavior during a council meeting and had sent threatening email correspondence.

Hietanen denied the allegations, asserting in his response that he did not act improperly. The issue has been discussed in several meetings this year. Earlier this week, the Kemijärvi City Council decided that the case concerning the Finns Party councilor “has been concluded” and chose not to issue a reprimand to Hietanen.

However, Juhani Tapio, the chair of the city council, had suggested that Hietanen be formally reprimanded and that his behavior towards Kuvaja be deemed inappropriate. Ultimately, the city council decided against any reprimand.

The city council stated that based on the investigations conducted, there are no grounds for further actions regarding Hietanen. They emphasized the importance of adhering to the city’s ethical guidelines and treating others with respect in all situations. Additionally, the council highlighted the need for confidentiality and privacy regarding the publication of matters still under consideration. They have requested an assessment from the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities regarding the correctness of the decision-making process in this case.

A police report alleging defamation against Hietanen was also filed, but it did not proceed to an investigation.