A Finnish lawmaker committed suicide in the middle of Parliament in Helsinki.

This Tuesday, August 19, young Finnish parliamentarian Eemeli Peltonen, aged 30, passed away in the national Parliament building, Eduskuntatalo, in Helsinki. According to preliminary reports from the police and local media, Peltonen is believed to have taken his own life, although no third-party involvement is suspected.

His death has shocked Finland and has caused a wave of condolences from colleagues and political figures across the ideological spectrum.

Peltonen was a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and was serving his first term in Parliament, after being elected in 2023 for the southern region of Uusimaa, one of the country's most important areas.

Despite his young age, his political career had begun much earlier: he was elected as a councilor in the city of Järvenpää at the age of 18, and later, at just 22 years old, he became president of the municipal council, being the youngest person to hold that position.

Peltonen's body was found on the Parliament premises around 11:06 a.m. (local time) on Tuesday. Finnish police arrived at the scene and stated that there were no signs of crime, later confirming that his death was not being investigated as suspicious. Nearly three hours later, the parliamentary office issued a brief statement confirming his passing and expressing solidarity with his family members.

The news prompted the immediate suspension of all official government activity, even though Parliament is in summer recess. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo ordered political work to be halted for the rest of the day and led a minute of silence in honor of Peltonen. Orpo described him as "a highly valued colleague."

Parliament President Jussi Halla-aho also spoke out on social media, noting that Peltonen was a "respected colleague across party lines." Meanwhile, Tytti Tuppurainen, president of the Social Democratic parliamentary group, stated: "He was a very beloved member of our community. His loss leaves a huge void. A young life has ended far too soon."

In recent weeks, Peltonen had publicly mentioned that he was facing health problems. At the end of June, he posted on his social media that he had been absent from many parliamentary duties due to a kidney problem that caused him an infection.

In that message, he explained that he was receiving intravenous antibiotic treatment at Meilahti Hospital in Helsinki, and that he had been discharged, but that he remained on summer medical leave to focus on his recovery.

Although there were no public signs of mental health issues, his death has sparked a strong debate about the emotional and psychological well-being of young people with political aspirations, as well as about the pressures of public service, especially for those who begin their careers in high-profile positions at such a young age.