The Emperor’s New Clothes
A story of a system that replaced law with “common interpretation”
In H.C. Andersen’s fairy tale, swindlers weave fabric that is invisible to fools. In Naantali, civil servants wove “legality” that didn’t exist.
The difference is that in the tale, no one admitted the fraud. In this story, the weavers admitted in court that the fabric was air — but the court continued the celebration anyway.
Part 1: The Weavers’ Confession
The weavers claim the fabric exists, and the court believes because they want to believe.
Building control admits in court that they knew there was no permit, but decided “discretionally” to ignore the law.
The fabric is “special quality” that ordinary people don’t understand.
The law is replaced by civil servants’ mutual “interpretation” that is above the law.
Part 2: The Parade Through Legal Instances
When an error is made, the system’s task is to protect itself. No one stops the parade.
Conducts final inspection on expired permit. “No remarks.”
“We trust the official’s assessment.” Investigation concluded because “no crime is suspected.”
Sees no reason to suspect the procedure because the city assures everything is in order.
Decision: SAC does not investigate the matter.
Reasoning: “Final inspection report is not an appealable decision.”
(One cannot appeal the emperor’s nakedness because dressing is a technical procedure.)
Officials admit under oath: “We knew the permit had expired. We bypassed the law through discretion.”
But the parade has already passed – the administrative decision can no longer be reversed.
In this version, the child’s shout doesn’t stop the parade. The emperor (the system) admits being naked, but continues walking, because the Supreme Administrative Court has decided that nakedness is not an appealable state.
This website is that child. The documents are that shout.