An article by Suomen Kuvalehti (in Finnish) reveals that police suspect Green Party Tampere municipal election candidate Harri Pinola of involvement in sex trafficking. The report arrives at an awkward time for the party, as with just over two weeks to election day, the law prevents the removal of candidates from party electoral lists.

Chair of the Tampere Green Party and second vice-chair of the council group, Juhana Suoniemi,was made aware of the charges on Thursday.

"This is a shocking and absolutely reprehensible act, if he is guilty of it," Suoniemi said.

When reached by Yle, Pinola commented only briefly, confirming the police probe into his actions, but denying the charges. He had previously told Suomen Kuvalehti that he was helping Romanian women enter the country. According to the magazine, there are around a dozen women involved in the case.

Green Party chair Maria Ohisalo wrote in a tweet on Thursday that she was shocked by the matter.

"It turns out that in Tampere, a candidate for the Greens is being investigated for a crime related to sexual trafficking. I am shocked, because this is an act that violates human dignity. The person has concealed the matter from the party. He would not have been nominated had the matter been known," said Ohisalo in the tweet.

Party: No opportunity to extensively screen candidates

According to Suoniemi, the party does not have the opportunity for extensive screening of candidates.

"Everyone who wants to run or is nominated as a candidate is interviewed by two people. The interview did not reveal anything regarding what Pinola is currently suspected of. Trust has been breached," said Suoniemi.

He added that the candidate contract clearly states that investigations into criminal activity must be reported to the party. Pinola did not inform the party of any ongoing investigations . However, Suoniemi does not know whether Pinola was already a suspect at that time.

Although Pinola can no longer be removed from the list of candidates, the party will stop campaigning for him. The Tampere Greens have removed Pinola from the candidate list on their website and other practical details are being discussed on Friday.

According to Suoniemi, there will be no sanctions on behalf of the party because the party is not a tribunal. He also suspects the party reputation will not suffer over the matter.

"He has not been a prominent actor - more of a new person. I don’t think this will have a major effect," said Suoniemi.