Finnish MP Eemeli Peltonen (30) found dead in Parliament, having reportedly taken own life

Cape Talk’s John Maytham (standing in for Lester Kiewit) chats to international correspondent Adam Gilchrist.

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below:

Finland is mourning the sudden death of 30-year-old Member of Parliament Eemeli Peltonen, who was found dead on Tuesday morning inside the country's main parliamentary building in Helsinki. 

"This has shocked Finland like crazy."

- Adam Gilchrist

Police say no foul play is suspected, and local media have reported the death as a likely suicide. 

Peltonen, a first-term MP for the Social Democratic Party, had been elected in 2023 and was widely regarded as a rising political figure.

Tributes are pouring in from across the political spectrum. 

"Politicians on all sides have expressed their sadness... a sudden death does rather bring people together." 

- Adam Gilchrist

Peltonen began his political journey at just 18 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the youngest ever Chair of the city board in Järvenpää. 

In late June, he had posted publicly about taking sick leave due to a serious kidney infection, writing that he was focused on recovery. 

"We do heap a lot on our politicians... we do give them a hard time... and often rightly so, but when you think about it, what a stressful, anxiety-ridden career it must be. You're in, you're out, people are having a go, and they don't take any prisoners when they are having a go. So, maybe that played a part." 

- Adam Gilchrist

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.