Anni Sinnemäki (Green) is set to continue as Deputy Mayor of Helsinki with responsibility for the Urban Environment portfolio, after being elected at a Green Party Helsinki branch meeting on Wednesday evening.
The capital has one mayor and four deputy mayors, with each deputy handed responsibility for one of four divisions: Social Services and Health Care, Education, Urban Environment and Culture and Leisure.
Ongoing investigation
Helsinki police are currently investigating Sinnemäki over suspected dereliction of duty regarding zoning permits in an area of old villas in Helsinki's Meilahti neighbourhood.
Some residents said they suspect Sinnemäki of helping her friend acquire a special building permit in the historical area in 2016, but the Green Party politician denies influencing the permit decision in any way.
The dispute hinges on a city permit granting actress Pihla Viitala and her sister the right to build a 200-square-metre semi-detached house in the place of an old 26-square-metre shed. The construction on a plot owned by the city of Helsinki angered some local residents as they had sought and were denied permission by the city to erect anything on their own plots, including small saunas.
Sinnemäki is a friend of Viitala and her family. In 2016, Sinnemäki sat on a board that ruled on the Viitala petition to build a new house on their property.
An administrative court has previously ruled that the matter did not amount to a conflict of interest for Sinnemäki. Plaintiffs have since appealed the decision to the Supreme Administrative Court and requested a preliminary investigation into the matter, which police have now initiated.
NCP nominates Sazonov
Separately on Wednesday, the National Coalition Party's Helsinki branch nominated city councillor Daniel Sazonov for the role of Deputy Mayor, with responsibility for social services and health care.
Sazonov's NCP party colleague Juhana Vartiainen will become the Mayor of Helsinki, replacing outgoing Mayor Jan Vapaavuori.
