Two Social Democratic politicians in Oulu accuse each other of misconduct

The Social Democratic Party’s parliamentary group is investigating allegations of improper behaviour between two Oulu-based politicians, varakansanedustaja Miina-Anniina Heiskanen and kansanedustaja Pia Hiltunen, Yle reports.

Heiskanen, who serves as an aide to SDP MP Johanna Ojala-Niemelä, has filed two formal harassment complaints against Hiltunen with the party. The first, submitted in spring 2025, concerned a meeting of the SDP’s Oulu city council group where Hiltunen allegedly criticised Heiskanen personally and questioned her suitability as a candidate for the parliamentary elections. The second, filed in April 2026, related to an email Hiltunen reportedly sent to party leadership and Heiskanen’s employer, which Heiskanen claims contained “serious falsehoods” about her.

Hiltunen has not responded to Yle’s requests for comment but previously told Ilta-Sanomat that disputes from the 2025 council group meeting had been “resolved with a hug and chocolates.”

Rami Lindström, secretary-general of the SDP’s parliamentary group, confirmed the group is handling the case, describing Hiltunen’s initial contact as a “request for help.” He characterised the conflict as a power struggle within Oulu’s local politics, where both sides perceive the other’s conduct as inappropriate.

“Both have experienced the other’s methods as, to some degree, improper,” Lindström said, adding that discussions with the two politicians have so far failed to bring them to the same table. While the dispute has not directly disrupted the parliamentary group’s work, Lindström acknowledged that repeated public controversies over misconduct have affected the party’s internal atmosphere.

The SDP’s Oulu district branch is responsible for addressing the formal complaints.