The Jyväskylä City Council dismissed the entire city board due to a lack of confidence, and then immediately appointed a new board at a council meeting on Monday.
The decision was made in order to remove board member Teemu Torssonen, who is currently being held by police on suspicion of the attempted murder of Finns Party official Pekka Kataja.
The city board is in charge of the city's administration and prepares matters for consideration by the wider city council. Torssonen remains a member of the council.
Under Finnish municipal law, a member of the board suspected of a crime may be removed from public office if he or she has been charged, but Torssonen has not been officially charged even though he is in pretrial custody. Torssonen also refused to resign.
A temporary committee established by the council suggested the dismissal and re-appointment of the board as a means of removing Torssonen, which is permitted by law.
Torssonen was reportedly expelled from the Finns Party last year.
The new board will remain the same, with the exception of Toimi Kankaanniemi (Finns) replacing Torssonen, who was also expelled from the Finns Party in June.
3.2.21: Headline clarified.
