Joonas Könttä, a former member of the Finnish Parliament, has voiced his bewilderment regarding the news reported by Helsingin Sanomat about the almost two-year leave granted to seasoned diplomat Mikko Hautala as he transitions to a role overseeing geopolitics and societal relations at Nokia starting in 2024. Könttä, who has previous experience working as a diplomat at the Foreign Ministry, finds this decision surprising, particularly in light of his own experiences when he sought similar considerations during his transition to the private sector.

In a message on Threads, Könttä detailed that he was explicitly informed that leave of absence would not be granted when he left the Ministry for a leadership position in the private sector, raising questions about potential inconsistencies in the application of policies regarding leaves of absence. He conveyed to Ilta-Sanomat that he had indeed inquired whether a leave was possible and was clearly told it was not an option for him, indicating a stark contrast with Hautala's situation.

Könttä served as an MP from 2019 to 2023 and resigned from his role at the Foreign Ministry to join the communications agency Kreab in October 2023. His statements call into question the fairness and transparency of the rules governing such leaves in the Foreign Ministry, potentially sparking discussions about policy equity within governmental frameworks as they relate to transitions into private sector roles.