Finland Times

 

File picture of Finnish parliament House. Photo Lehtikuva.

Only two political parties – the Kristillisdemokraatit (Christian Democrats) and the Vihreät (Green Party) – have code of conduct for their parliamentary groups, party sources said.

 

Although the majority of political parties have no specific guidelines in this regard, the opposition Perussuomalaiet (Finns Party), Suomen Keskusta (Centre Party) and Vasemmistoliitto (Left Alliance) expressed interest to enact specific codes of conduct for their parliamentary groups.    

 

The Christian Democrats and the Greens have specific guidelines about how to act on different issues, such as confidentiality, transparency, lobbying and rule on the objection as well as how to deal with party members in public. 

 

The Greens mainly follow the party’s instructions on ministers and organisational issues, said party general secretary Lasse Miettinen.

 

The chairperson of Christian Democrats, Päivi Räsänen, raised the issue of code of conduct when the vice chairman of the party, Laura Peuhkuri, talked rough in a live broadcast programme. 

 

Räsänen said Peuhkuri had acted against the party’s code of conduct.

 

Meanwhile, leaders of the opposition Perussuomalaiet said although there was no specific code of conduct for its parliamentary group, the activities and behaviour of the party lawmakers were controlled by the party’s rules and law. 

 

The Keskusta and the Vasemmistoliitto, however, said they were considering formulation of guidelines for their parliamentary groups. 

 

Keskusta secretary Timo Laaninen said the code of conduct issue is usually discussed during general elections. 

 

Last year, the Centre Party North Karelia district unit agreed to enact a guideline for its parliamentary election candidate where it prohibited any criticism against the candidates of one’s own party.