Wed, 28 May, 2014 12:40:28 AM
Lawmakers will have to explain gifts, travel tickets in future
FTimes-STT Report, May 28
Inside of the parliament house. Photo Lehtikuva.
The parliament has taken an initiative to enact a guideline that would entail a provision for mandatory disclosure by lawmakers of their outside links to ensure more transparency in their activities.
A working group with representations of all the political parties on Tuesday handed a report to the speaker of parliament in this regard.
From the beginning of the next parliamentary term, the MPs will have to account for their involvement in commercial activities as well as inform of their corporate holdings and wealth.
Currently, it is optional for the lawmakers to make declaration of their other interests.
“We want to make the parliament work more open and transparent,” said the first deputy speaker, Pekka Ravi.
Outside of the parliament house. Photo Lehtikuva.
Ravi stressed that MPs have a responsibility to ensure that their information is up to date.
Parliament sources told STT that all the MPs in this electoral term have declared their interests.
The parliamentary rules of procedures are also intended to undergo changes which will require MPs to make notification of the gifts they receive, trips they make and tickets for the various events they attend.
The obligation compels an MP to make notification when the gifts’ value exceeds EUR 400 in a calendar year.
Benefits received by the spouse and children of the lawmakers still do not need to be disclosed.
Legislators receive tickets for trips and other events due to their involvement with different committees. However, Markus Lohi, a Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party) lawmaker points out that gifts are never offered to a large number of MPs.
The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) has encouraged Finland to draw up a code of conduct for parliamentarians with regard to conflict of interests and rules on gifts.
