On Thursday, the Finnish government presented a legislative proposal aimed at restricting the immediate transition of ministers into private sector roles or lobbying positions after their tenure. The proposed law would impose a maximum 12-month cooling-off period for individuals who have served as ministers or the prime minister, preventing them from entering such positions when necessary. This measure seeks to combat the “revolving door” phenomenon, where decision-makers shift to the private sector or advocacy positions immediately after serving in government. Previously, there had been no specific legislation in Finland addressing this issue, with past governments only making principled decisions. Comparable regulations are more common in other European countries, and calls for such restrictions have also come from European anti-corruption agencies. The government led by former Prime Minister Sanna Marin attempted to enact similar legislation in the fall of 2022; however, the proposal lapsed as it could not be processed before the end of the parliamentary session. Under the current proposal, a cooling-off period would apply if a minister had access to information that could significantly benefit their new role or create a clear conflict of interest. Ministers intending to transition to a new position must notify a newly established cooling-off committee, which would have the authority to impose the restriction. During the cooling-off period, they would receive compensation equivalent to their ministerial salary, estimated at around €135,000 for a one-year period. The law is expected to come into effect in September 2027.
On Thursday, the Finnish government presented a legislative proposal aimed at restricting the immediate transition of ministers into private sector roles or lobbying positions after their tenure. The proposed law would impose a maximum 12-month cooling-off period for individuals who have served as ministers or the prime minister, preventing them from entering such positions when necessary. This measure seeks to combat the “revolving door” phenomenon, where decision-makers shift to the private sector or advocacy positions immediately after serving in government.
Previously, there had been no specific legislation in Finland addressing this issue, with past governments only making principled decisions. Comparable regulations are more common in other European countries, and calls for such restrictions have also come from European anti-corruption agencies.
The government led by former Prime Minister Sanna Marin attempted to enact similar legislation in the fall of 2022; however, the proposal lapsed as it could not be processed before the end of the parliamentary session.
Under the current proposal, a cooling-off period would apply if a minister had access to information that could significantly benefit their new role or create a clear conflict of interest. Ministers intending to transition to a new position must notify a newly established cooling-off committee, which would have the authority to impose the restriction. During the cooling-off period, they would receive compensation equivalent to their ministerial salary, estimated at around €135,000 for a one-year period. The law is expected to come into effect in September 2027.