Setting a new time for elections

If municipal elections or the related procedures cannot for some reason be conducted at the times provided in this Act, or if the number of candidates elected when determining the election results or the number of candidates declared elected under section 157, subsection 1 at the time referred to in that subsection is smaller than the number of councillors to be elected in the municipality, the Ministry of Justice may, at the proposal of the local council, set a new time for the elections. If elections are not held before the end of the electoral term, the current councillors and deputy councillors stay in office until the results of the new elections are published. The provisions of this Act on new elections apply, as appropriate, to these elections.