Akaa council forms temporary committee to pursue removal of Anton Murola as audit chair
Akaa city council voted to set up a temporary committee to prepare removing councilor Anton Murola from his role as audit committee chair following revelations of racist social media posts.
Akaa city council on Monday voted to establish a temporary committee to prepare the dismissal of councilor Anton Murola from his post as chair of the audit committee.
The decision passed 27–6 with two abstentions, after an 11-councillor initiative prompted by late-July reports of Murola's racist social media posts. The initiative says Murola has "repeatedly used expressions that are racist and degrading to human dignity" and argues he no longer enjoys the trust required for the audit chair role. Earlier reporting detailed the Finns group's backing for Murola and said the council will make the final decision after the city board discusses a removal motion the Finns group's backing for Murola.
SDP councilor Heikki Ahonen sought to send the matter back to the city board for further preparation, but that proposal failed 6–29. Under the Municipal Act, a temporary committee must prepare any removal of an elected official from such duties.
Murola told YLE the initiators "have every right to make their initiatives and form a committee." He has said he will not resign voluntarily.
Earlier coverage
Catch the full story over at YLE
