Finland's Parliament Director Pertti Rauhio has held discussions with the Finns Party about their parliamentary assistant appointments. Several party members have hired close relatives for these taxpayer-funded positions.
Rauhio confirmed these conversations occurred but noted assistant selection remains internal party matters. Parliament administration primarily ensures legal compliance rather than intervening in hiring decisions.
He explained parliament doesn't automatically learn about family relationships unless revealed voluntarily. Some cases only became public through media reports.
When relatives are appointed, officials might discuss public perception issues with the lawmakers involved. Rauhio emphasized they don't lecture experienced politicians but engage in dialogue about potential questions that could arise.
The practice recently gained attention after Social and Health Services Minister Kaisa Juuso hired her son as parliamentary assistant. Other Finns Party members have made similar appointments during this legislative term.
Veijo Niemi appointed his son last year, while Mikko Polvinen hired his wife. Jaana Strandman recently selected her spouse for an assistant role.
Hiring spouses or relatives as parliamentary assistants isn't illegal but raises ethical concerns about using public funds. An emeritus professor specializing in corruption studies previously labeled such appointments as nepotism.
Parliament's 2007 regulations require assistants to be adults with suitable education and demonstrated capabilities. Lawmakers themselves assess whether candidates meet these requirements.
Unlike civil service positions, no specific educational degrees or experience thresholds exist for parliamentary assistants. Parliament primarily conducts security checks on candidates but doesn't evaluate family connections.
This situation highlights the tension between parliamentary autonomy and public accountability in political hiring practices. While technically legal, appointing relatives inevitably creates perception challenges about fair use of taxpayer money.