Criticism of the Municipal Executive Committee in Flen Municipality for contravening the requirement for objectivity in the Instrument of Government by contacting a private company to question the publication of an advertisement critical of wind power

Summary of the decision: An official of the municipality contacted a private company concerning an advertisement that was critical of wind power. The advertisement had been published on a digital noticeboard situated on municipal land under a concession contract between the company and the municipality. As a result of this contact, the advertisement was removed.

According to the Municipal Executive Committee, the purpose of contacting the company was not to stop the advertisement but simply to clarify whether the company had altered its principles regarding advertisements with political messages. However, the Parliamentary Ombudsman cannot see how the matter of whether a published advertisement complies with the company’s own guidelines would fall within the municipality’s remit.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman notes that it is difficult to perceive the email in any other way than as the municipality taking issue with the publication of the advertisement in question. There was also a significant risk that this might be perceived as putting pressure on the company to refrain from allowing messages critical of ongoing policy processes in the municipality.

In the opinion of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, the contact was inappropriate and in contravention of the requirement for objectivity in the Instrument of Government (SFS 1974:152), and the municipality is criticised accordingly.