Pelkosenniemi plans police report against ousted board chair

Pelkosenniemi municipality plans to file a police report against Laura Lakso, the former chair of its municipal executive board, Yle reports. The board will consider the proposal on Monday.

Lakso, who represents the Centre Party, is suspected of trying to influence the preparation of matters and decision-making in breach of her official duties.

The proposal says the threshold for filing a criminal report has been met. According to its grounds, the municipal executive board has learned of events suggesting that Lakso may have acted unlawfully in her role.

Acting municipal manager Mikko Merikanto declined to discuss the matter in greater detail with Yle because it involves criminal suspicions.

At its June meeting, the board requested an explanation from Lakso under the Municipalities Act. She submitted it within the required time.

Yle was unable to reach Lakso for comment.

Ousting followed disputes and loss of trust

A temporary committee investigated Lakso’s position of trust and prepared the case for her removal in the spring. Its report described disputes and unclear issues within the municipality, including a lack of trust between Merikanto and Lakso.

The municipal council voted 9 to 4 in June to remove the chair and deputy chair leadership of the executive board. In practice, the decision removed only Lakso, as deputy chair Timo Tossavainen, also a Centre Party representative, was immediately elected as the new chair.

Lakso filed a municipal appeal with the Northern Finland Administrative Court, arguing that the removal decision had been made unlawfully and should be reconsidered.

Later in June, the Centre Party’s Pelkosenniemi local association condemned the actions that led to Lakso’s removal. Tossavainen and Centre Party representative Marko Poikela, who had supported establishing the temporary committee, subsequently left the municipal council group.

Pelkosenniemi’s local politics have been marked by disputes for a long time, according to Yle.