The Finnish Parliament opened its autumn term on Tuesday afternoon with a minute of silence in memory of MP Eemeli Peltonen (SDP). The first-term MP from Uusimaa, who was 30, died at the Parliament Building on 19 August, during the legislature's summer recess.
Peltonen was a member of the Parliament's administrative and legal committees and also chaired the Järvenpää City Council.
On Monday, Yle reported that its sources have confirmed that Peltonen took his own life after a period of serious illness. According to information received by Yle, technical surveillance material in the possession of authorities indicates that his death was by suicide. Yle has previously reported that the case involved a fall from a staircase.
There has been no official confirmation of his cause of death, but various media outlets have reported that he died by suicide.
Anette Karlsson from Porvoo takes over Peltonen's seat. She resigned from the SDP two years ago after narrowly failing to secure a seat in the previous spring's parliamentary election, but said last month that she would rejoin the party.
Yle does not generally report on suicides, but has reported on this case since MPs are elected officials with significant public responsibilities, and because the incident occurred in a public building. Confirmed reporting helps to prevent the spread of misinformation.
MPs resume work after 10-week holiday
Parliament has been on summer recess for more than 10 weeks. Tuesday's only item of business on the agenda is the consideration of the Intelligence Oversight Commissioner's report on last year's developments.
On Wednesday afternoon, MPs have a full slate of legislative hearings on issues including proposed amendments to the Marriage Act and the Imprisonment Act, as well as the transparency and targeting of political advertising.
Meanwhile, ministers from the government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) were aiming to complete negotiations on next year's budget before the opening of Parliament on Tuesday.
Those talks were to have begun on Monday, but were postponed due to discussion of the latest racism scandal involving a top-ranking MP from the second main government partner, the Finns Party. Orpo said late Monday that the four coalition partners had agreed on new ground-rules for handling any such incidents in the future.
The legislature's last plenary session was on 19 June, just before the Midsummer holiday weekend. In its final session, Parliament approved a reform of the long-contested Sámi Parliament Act and Finland's withdrawal from the Ottawa landmine treaty.
2.08pm: Updated with opening of session, other details.
