A Finnish parliament member attempted to alter her official absence records retroactively. Eveliina Heinäluoma requested the Parliament's Central Office change her statistics to reflect maternity leave rather than unexplained absences.
The office refused the request, leaving Heinäluoma with the highest number of unexcused absences in Parliament. She described the situation as 'a bit boring since it's maternity leave absence.'
Parliament officials stated members are responsible for submitting accurate absence notifications on time. They confirmed Heinäluoma contacted them months after her leave ended seeking statistical changes.
Heinäluoma claimed the system was 'clunky' and she didn't know what went wrong with her notifications. The Central Office maintained the incorrect marking resulted from her failure to submit proper documentation.
Other notable absence records show Laura Huhtasaari with 42 unexplained absences and Hanna Kosonen with 39. Six Parliament members from the Finns Party have perfect attendance with zero recorded absences.
Political parties show distinct absence patterns. The Green Party averages 48.2 absences per member, largely due to parental leaves. The Finns Party averages just 15.0 absences, helped by six members with perfect records.
Parliament statistics distinguish between personal reasons, work-related duties, and unexplained absences. Members must notify the Parliament about approved personal reasons like family leave or illness.
When absent for parliamentary work, such as committee meetings, the absence doesn't count toward statistics. This system aims to accurately reflect member participation while accommodating legitimate needs.
The controversy highlights ongoing debates about parliamentary work efficiency and accountability. Some members face criticism for low participation while others maintain perfect records throughout their terms.