Ähtäri city council demands resignations from two Finns Party members amid trust issues

The Ähtäri city council has demanded that two members of the Finns Party voluntarily resign from their positions by the end of the day. The individuals involved are Juha Nortunen, a member of the city council, and Jarkko Salo, deputy chairman of the audit committee. Council chair Leena Mäenpää confirmed this decision, which arose during a closed session on Monday.

Mäenpää refrained from explaining the reasons for the resignation request or why the matter was handled confidentially. “We try to protect these individuals, as they are private citizens despite holding public office,” she stated, emphasizing that an investigation will precede any decisions.

Neither Nortunen nor Salo plans to resign. Nortunen expressed his confusion, stating, “I have reflected on this and see no basis for it. I have tried to manage matters in the best and wisest way from the perspective of the city and its citizens.”

They suggest that the resignation request may stem from a lack of trust, citing differences in opinions and allegations made without basis, including claims of personal financial gain, which Nortunen firmly denies.

Complicating the situation, documents underpinning the accusations, including a letter sent to the council, have not been provided to council members, despite multiple requests.

Nortunen indicated he is seeking legal assistance due to the severity of the accusations and hopes that the documents will be made publicly accessible for transparency.

If the council members refuse to resign, the matter will likely proceed to the city council’s meeting in early September, which could result in demands for the resignation of the entire city council if the trust issues persist. Furthermore, Salo noted that the audit committee would become nonfunctional if he resigns, as there would be no chairperson to lead it.

The urgency of the situation has prompted inquiries into why the trust deficit has been handled in secrecy, with promises of further information forthcoming.