Feedback on dress code for Finnish parliament members receives attention after Jessi Jokelainen’s attire query

Feedback regarding the dress code of parliament members is generally quite rare, according to Pertti Rauhio, the administrative director of the Finnish Parliament. “Such comments don’t come in every year or in every parliamentary session, but they do occur more than once during a term.”

Last Thursday, Oulu-based MP Jessi Jokelainen received feedback from Parliament Speaker Jussi Halla-aho regarding her attire during a parliamentary question hour. While Yle reached out to Halla-aho, he declined to comment on the matter. Rauhio did not address Jokelainen’s specific case.

According to regulations, members of parliament are expected to exhibit dignified behavior, which includes adhering to certain dress norms. The dress code for plenary sessions is “smart casual,” a practice that has been established for some time, with no single person or entity defining it. Rauhio remarked, “I would be surprised if it wasn’t already in place in 1907,” referencing the year the first Finnish Parliament was formed.

Failure to adhere to the dress code usually results in merely a mention of the issue. For instance, parliament members are advised to avoid summer or casual attire, and the appropriateness of jeans sometimes sparks debate. “There are no absolute boundaries or definitions here. After all, Parliament is not a fashion house. We’re not going to define it too strictly,” Rauhio commented.

He noted that the Parliament Speaker assesses adherence to this general practice. If a member does not comply, the typical outcome is just a mention or a discussion about it. Rauhio does not believe the dress code will be abolished, but it may evolve. “It could diversify and become more relaxed, though there has always been an understanding of how dignified behavior is reflected in attire.”