Kittilä municipal manager’s future uncertain following Supreme Court ruling

The Legal Affairs Director of the Finnish Association of Municipalities, Juha Myllymäki, believes that the recent conviction of Kittilä’s municipal manager will not directly impact his ability to work in that role. However, the municipal council may reassess his position. “If the council determines that the manager still enjoys its confidence and is capable of performing his duties, the matter will be considered resolved,” Myllymäki stated.

The Supreme Court previously sentenced Timo Kurula, who served as the chair of Kittilä’s municipal council from 2013 to 2015, to 80 days of conditional imprisonment for attempted fraud, violation of official duties, and misuse of his official position. Myllymäki noted that he has not encountered similar cases during his career. “The chain of events in Kittilä is particularly unusual, making comparisons difficult.”

Aki Nevalainen, chair of the Kittilä municipal council, couldn’t provide insights on how the conviction might affect the municipal manager’s role. “It’s certainly possible that the manager may not be able to continue in his position,” he said. Relevant documents will be provided to council members, party leaders, and the council’s executive, and the municipal council will discuss the matter in its meeting on September 30.

If decision-makers believe the Supreme Court’s ruling obstructs the manager’s ability to perform his duties or undermines public trust, a motion of no confidence could be initiated. This process could take 2-3 months, Myllymäki explained, adding that it’s important for the issue to be addressed to avoid lingering uncertainties.

Kurula, who previously received a conditional sentence last year and continues to serve as Kittilä’s municipal manager, briefly commented on the judgment, stating he had not yet reviewed it.