MPs raised EUR 2.8 million in anonymous campaign donations

Halla-aho raised the most in small contributions

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At least EUR 2.8 million in funding for the election campaigns of Finland’s Members of Parliament came from small individual donations whose sources do not need to be disclosed.
      Monday was the last day for the disclosure of campaign contributions.
      On the basis of disclosures submitted by Monday evening, successful candidates had personal campaign budgets totalling EUR 8.5 million. Of this sum, EUR 2.8 million – about one third – came from contributions of under EUR 1,500, whose donors do not need to be disclosed, and in fact must not be disclosed without the permission of the donor.
     
Election law expert Lauri Tarasti says that the figures do not come as a surprise.
      “Many do not want their names to come out in public. Then they contribute a sum that falls below the limit”, Tarasti says.
     
Tarasti feels that keeping smaller donations private is justified for reasons of privacy protection. Tarasti points out that political points of view are defined as sensitive personal information in Finnish privacy legislation.
      “I think that there needs to be a limit for the sake of privacy protection. It is possible to have political discussion on whether or not the limit is the right one right now.”
     
The new law on campaign funding was passed last autumn, and is being applied this spring for the first time. Previously the upper limit for anonymous donations was EUR 1,700. Now it has been brought down to EUR 1,500.
      Contributions from any single donor are limited to EUR 6,000, but parties are allowed to donate more than that to their candidates.
      The largest recipients of donations from anonymous private contributors were Jussi Halla-aho (True Finn) who got EUR 54,287, Laura Räty (Nat. Coalition Party) (EUR 22,334) and Alexander Stubb (EUR 22,291).
     
The new legislation was passed in the wake of a political furore over election donations. Even now there are no punishments assigned for violations.
      “The sanctions are political, and they are fairly tough, as has been seen”, Tarasti points out.

More on this subject:
 Richest Finn helped finance National Coalition Party campaign

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Consideration of charges in election campaign funding case to be completed in spring (3.1.2011)
  Government parties close to agreement over election funding limits (2.11.2009)
  Election funding row sparks serious discussion of dissolution of Parliament (24.9.2009)
  Restrictions on election campaign financing would be most perceptible in Greater Helsinki area (15.10.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat