Citizens file impeachment case against government – Espoo’s Aki Saariaho involved

Johanna Kohvakka

Last June, at the Suomi Areena event in Pori, a group of activists interrupted a panel featuring Minister of the Environment Kai Mykkänen and announced that they would challenge him in the High Court of Impeachment. In a recently released statement, the organizers of the campaign announced that they have filed a complaint with the Chancellor of Justice, alleging that the government is violating both the spirit and the letter of Section 20 of the Finnish Constitution.

Section 20 of the Constitution outlines that the responsibility for nature and its biodiversity, the environment, and cultural heritage belongs to everyone, including members of the government. The complainants accuse the government of systematically neglecting its responsibility toward the environment and claim that it has failed to meet the constitutional obligations to protect the environment.

The complaint also references the government's negligence, which they say has led to the deterioration of Finland's natural environment and the acceleration of climate change.

Among those who signed the complaint are around 200 ordinary Finns who are concerned about the state of the environment and are demanding accountability from the government and its ministers. The complaint was submitted to the Chancellor of Justice on Friday, September 20, with the aim of prompting an investigation into the legality of the government's actions and potentially bringing those responsible before the High Court of Impeachment.

One of the key figures behind the complaint is Aki Saariaho, a 51-year-old resident of Espoo.

"In the eyes of the law, the government and its ministers are equal to all of us. If the government breaks the law, the legitimacy of ministers and MPs should be questioned, and they should be held accountable in the same system they are meant to defend," Saariaho explains his motivation for participating in the complaint.

Aki Saariaho has been organizing climate protests for quite some time and has also been seen among supporters of the climate movement Elokapina (Extinction Rebellion). How does he view civil disobedience, such as the much-criticized paint attack on the Finnish Parliament building that occurred on Wednesday 25th September?

"Civil disobedience, both now and throughout its history, has been incredibly diverse—and so are its methods. Non-violent resistance is the ideal, but we are constantly faced with defining what constitutes violence for different people," Saariaho reflects.

"I believe that civil disobedience is strongly tied to self-determination, where each individual decides how they contribute to society or, alternatively, how they express that those in power are misusing their authority. The painting of the columns at the Parliament House was about drawing attention to the actions of the decision-makers. The question of how elected representatives use their power is a matter of right and wrong—not a debate over whether a rainstorm or a pressure washer will clean off the art performance's paint more quickly," says Saariaho.

Elokapina was again seen today Friday on Mannerheimintie after a two-year break, and Saariaho intended to be present in his role as a legal observer. Legal observers are tasked for example with monitoring arrests and other potential disturbances during protests, and documenting incidents carefully. They safeguard the protesters' legal rights and help prevent the use of excessive force by authorities.

Original article in Finnish
Translated by Green Sisu