The Finnish Parliamentary Ombudsman has received six formal complaints regarding the decision to award an internship to Oliver Stubb, the 21-year-old son of Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA). The case has raised questions about fairness and transparency in recruitment processes at prominent research institutions.
Complaints question fairness of selection process
According to Finnish media outlet Iltalehti, the Ombudsman’s office is currently assessing whether it will handle the complaints directly or forward them to the Justice Chancellor, who also supervises the legality of public administration in Finland. The complaints centre on suspicions that FIIA may not have applied uniform selection criteria to all candidates.
Emeritus Professor of Employment Law, Seppo Koskinen, voiced concerns last week, telling public broadcaster Yle: “Looking from the outside, this does not look good,” suggesting the process may have lacked impartiality.
More experienced candidates overlooked
Documents obtained by newspaper Ilta-Sanomat indicate that out of 59 applicants, five were invited for interviews. Some of the candidates reportedly had more advanced university studies and relevant work experience in international politics than Oliver Stubb, who was ultimately selected for the internship.
The FIIA is a government-funded research body focusing on Finnish foreign policy, Nordic security, and NATO affairs. Given the institute’s influential role in shaping policy discussions, the decision has attracted notable public attention.
Transparency concerns over unpublished documents
Although Oliver Stubb has already commenced his internship, the institute has declined to release all documents related to the selection process, citing privacy concerns linked to applicants’ personal data. This partial disclosure has further fuelled criticism about the level of transparency in the appointment.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman‘s upcoming decision on whether to investigate the matter directly or involve the Justice Chancellor will likely set the tone for future debates on the integrity of internship and hiring practices within Finnish public institutions.
