Abuse of power now punishable for public employees under new law

The purpose is to make it easier to punish people in public organizations who exploit their positions for their own gain or to favor or disadvantage someone else.

Public employees and politicians have previously been able to be convicted of misconduct, but this has been limited to errors related to the exercise of official authority.

A larger group is now being targeted when the crime is decriminalized. This means that politicians are also covered and that it can also apply, for example, to misuse of tax funds.

The penalty for abuse of public office is a fine or imprisonment for a maximum of two years. For a felony, the penalty is a minimum of one year and six months and a maximum of six years.