Parliament's Chancellery Commission has started the process of suspending Tytti Yli-Viikari, the auditor general of the National Audit Office of Finland (VTV).
Speaker of Parliament Anu Vehviläinen (Cen) announced the decision during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, explaining that the commission wants to calm the commotion that has engulfed the agency since details of Yli-Viikari's expenses and travel claims became public.
"There have been many negative remarks about the activities and use of money by the auditor general, including among citizens, in public and in Parliament. The auditor general's activities have significantly weakened the agency's credibility and position as the ultimate supervisory authority of public funds," Vehviläinen said.
The statement came after the Chancellery Commission discussed the matter at a meeting earlier on Tuesday, following a recommendation from the speaker's office on Monday that Yli-Viikari be suspended from her position pending the outcome of a formal investigation.
Commission "not convinced" by explanations
Vehviläinen emphasised that the National Audit Office of Finland must exercise particularly good judgment in the use of public money, but the commission was not convinced by the answers provided by Yli-Viikari in relation to the ambiguities on her use of agency money.
The commission hopes that Yli-Viikari will refrain from performing any official duties while the investigation is ongoing, Vehviläinen added.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has previously stated that it has launched a preliminary investigation into VTV's operations.
Ilta-Sanomat reported last week (external link in Finnish) that Yli-Viikari spent nearly 5,000 euros of public money on hairdressing and beauty services between 2018 and 2020. The tabloid further reported that there were questions over the auditor general's use of an agency credit card to cover travel costs and other personal expenses.
Yli-Viikari has not responded to Yle's request for an interview.