In Umeå's municipal council, someone has left feces on the toilet floor at three consecutive meetings, leading to a crisis meeting on the hygiene issue. Chair Marie-Louise Rönnmark urged party leaders to speak with their colleagues, with theories pointing to both internal and external causes. The municipality's cleaning staff, however, deny that the incidents occurred.
The incidents occurred on the toilet next to the council chamber in Umeå at three consecutive meetings, as reported by Västerbottens-Kuriren. Municipal council chair Marie-Louise Rönnmark (S) called a meeting with party group leaders on Monday to discuss the so-called "hygiene crisis." Leaders were urged to speak with their party colleagues, as suspicion points to someone within the council.
Theories abound. Left Party group leader Bore Sköld speculates on causes like "a beginning dementia or a madman." Green Party's Mariam Salem suspects an external protest action, since the toilets are open to the public. "I find it hard to see that it's someone from inside," she tells VK. "It must be intentional."
Local Workers' Party's David Kaza is skeptical and suggests germ phobia as an explanation. "One shouldn't make too big a deal out of such a shitty issue," he tells P4 Västerbotten. Other theories include illness.
The municipality's cleaning and operations service, headed by Michael Viklund, has no knowledge of the events. "It's probably just a tall tale or a myth," he tells VK. "From what I know and have heard, nothing has happened on those toilets."
Rönnmark downplays the matter: "It was just a short information. It's not a council issue." Despite denials from cleaning staff, the incidents have sparked concern and speculation in Umeå's local politics.