Finland's Parliament Speaker Council discussed withholding MP salaries for repeated unexplained absences. The debate began after one lawmaker missed seven plenary sessions to film a reality TV show.
Social Democratic Party MP Miapetra Kumpula-Natri participated in adventure program filming in Lapland during parliament's opening days. She returned to parliamentary work on September 17 after skipping multiple sessions. Kumpula-Natri described her TV appearance as a '25th anniversary celebration break.'
No salary consequences resulted from Tuesday's decision for Kumpula-Natri. The Speaker Council noted salary withholding rules could apply to future problematic cases despite never being used before.
Council documents state problematic commitments include those causing long absences without valid reasons. Valid excuses include parliamentary duties or acceptable personal matters.
Parliamentary Secretary Mikael Koillinen prepared the background memorandum. He suggested the council should identify TV appearances and similar commitments as potentially problematic when they cause extended absences.
Professor Veli Pekka Viljanen and Mikael Hidén provided expert statements supporting the discussion. They indicated high application thresholds don't prevent future use of salary withholding rules.
Koillinen's memo stated the council could clarify that unused regulations remain applicable to problematic long absences. The rules for Finnish MP salaries and attendance haven't been tested until now.
This parliamentary salary debate reveals growing tension between traditional duties and modern celebrity culture. Lawmakers face new scrutiny about how they balance public responsibilities with personal opportunities.
What constitutes acceptable absence reasons for Finnish MPs? The Speaker Council will continue developing clear guidelines for parliament member attendance requirements.