More MPs quitting jobs raises ethical concerns

The increasing trend of Finnish Members of Parliament leaving their positions before the end of tenure has raised controversy.

On Wednesday, long time social democratic MP, former minister of social services and former minister of communications, Susanna Huovinen announced to leave her position, and unusually gave the reason as the difficult mental environment in the parliament.

Huovinen said it was exhausting to work in an atmosphere where negative talks and racism have increased. She said the challenge would require cooperation of all democratic forces but she would rather leave it to her companions.

The reference to racism and strict attitudes by Huovinen has been understood as a reference to the polarization brought by the right wing populists, seen mainly in the Finns Party and its breakaway fraction the Blues.

Huovinen will take up an executive position in a charitable shelter operation in her home area. She is the 9th MP to quit since the election of the current parliament in 2015.

Traditionally, Finnish MPs vacated their seats to take up public service positions or to become a Member of the European Parliament. But in the current parliament, MPs have quite often left for private sector employment, taking their knowledge of public sector operations to work as lobbyists.

On the cabinet level, a conservative minister for health left for an executive position in the commercial health care industry and a minister for economic affairs became the CEO the Confederation of Industries some years ago.

Debate of the ethics of a job change culminated earlier this spring when a conservative MP switched to being a director at an interest organization of the pharmaceutical industry.

Her move received public criticism from senior MPs in the Social Democratic Party and the Center Party. A social democratic MP said the way the conservatives move to become business lobbyists reflects the "formula of becoming corrupt".

"When the MPs have amassed information and built their networks, they can be easily purchased to work as promoters of business interest," said another social democratic MP.

In Finland, legislation does not call for any cooling off period before an MP or a minister switches to work in the private sector.

Former speaker of parliament Maria Lohela defended the practice. She said in February that the parliament cannot determine how a person plans his or her working life after parliament.

An MP's resignation needs to be approved by the plenary session. Despite the even tough criticism, no resignations have been blocked by fellow parliamentarians.

Local commentators have said the meaning to be an MP has changed. In terms of popular support, they are nowadays more like media products that have individual characters, while MPs in older time were more like members of a group.

Besides representing a political party, MPs have more varied ties with interest groups. Being in the parliament may be just one step in their "ideological career" or promotion of certain interest.

Compared internationally, the Finnish system of multi-seat constituencies makes the pull-out an MP easier. If an MP wants to get out, the next-in-line from his or her election list will come in. So a change will not bring in someone who represented another list.