The Green League announced on Saturday that their chairman Touko Aalto will remain on sick leave until 16 November. Aalto began his recuperative leave in mid-September due to severe work stress and exhaustion.
"We heard the news late on Friday night and we made it public knowledge first thing on Saturday," Greens party secretary Lasse Miettinen said.
The Greens will cover for Aalto's absence, with vice chair Maria Ohisalo speaking for Aalto during his leave. Parliamentary group chair Krista Mikkonen currently coordinates daily political work while co-vice chair Hanna Halmeenpää stands in for Aalto in parliament.
The Greens party must to without its leader in a crucial time, as Finland's parliamentary elections in April next year and the EU Parliament vote in May are being prepared this autumn.
Government is also planning municipal elections to be held concurrently with the European Parliament elections. Greens' secretary Miettinen said that Aalto's absence will not affect their preparations.
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Löyly owner quits to fight climate change
Greens MP, and founder of the Löyly sauna complex Antero Vartia also made an announcement on Saturday, saying on his Facebook page that he will not be running in the next parliamentary elections.
Vartia wrote that he will be using all his time to combat climate change in an as-yet unannounced capacity.
"I consider parliamentary work to be impressive and extremely important, and I would have liked to continue in my tasks there," he wrote. "My work for society continues, however, even if the arena is different. I never would have had the opportunity to start on a new project without my time as an MP."
Vartia announced last Monday that he would be selling his share of the Löyly sauna to co-founder, actor Jasper Pääkkönen.