PM hosted second meeting of Centre Party backers in 2007

Company executives invited to official residence for post-election party

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News has emerged of a second meeting hosted by Centre Party chairman, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen at the Prime Minister's residence Kesäranta in 2007. The secoind gathering, held after the 2007 Parliamentary election, involved corporate executives linked with Kehittyvien Maakuntien Suomi (KMS).
      The gathering took place nearly four months after Vanhanen had previously met with Nova Group executives Arto Merisalo and Tapani Yli-Saunamäki. That meeting had taken place on January 22nd, 2007.
      Vanhanen has had less than total recall of the meeting with the businessmen, but on Sunday he did not deny that the latter gathering had taken place.
      One of those taking part in the first meeting was Markku Kauppinen, CEO of the Local Government Pensions Institution (KEVA). He did not attend the later gathering. Representing the Centre Party in both meetings was Party Secretary Jarmo Korhonen.
     
In addition to Merisalo and Yli-Saunamäki, the second Kesäranta gathering, there were other prominent businessmen who had helped finance the Centre Party’s campaign, through KMS.
      Helsingin Sanomat has learned that those attending included Kyösti Kakkonen of the Tokmanni retail chain, Toivo Sukari of Idea Park, Lauri Juntunen, the main owner of Mononet, and Harri Toivainen of Suomi Soffa.
      Kaikkonen’s business partner Seppo Saastamoinen was also there.
      Taking part in the celebratory gathering were practically all businessmen who had channelled money to political parties through KMS.
     
Nova Group directors Yli-Saunamäki and Merisalo say that a relaxed atmosphere prevailed at the meeting.
      Yli-Saunamäki said that the gathering took place on May 14th, 2007, soon after the Parliamentary elections.
      Vanhanen offered dinner to his guests. Yli-Saunamäki says that the atmosphere was relaxed. He also said that it was the last time that the group met in connection with KMS.
      Merisalo says that the meeting in May, which was largely a victory celebration, marking the emergence of a centre-right government, and a second term for Matti Vanhanen as Prime Minister. In this respect, it differed significantly from the one in January, which was seen more as a “sparring event”.
     
Vanhanen commented on the second party by text message from Greece on Sunday, in response to a question from Helsingin Sanomat, on why the two events were held and what was discussed there.
      “It was a post-election public relations event organised by the party office, gathering those who had shown election support for the party.”
      “In these types of events I present a political review, and participants are allowed to ask questions. The Centre Party paid for the event.”
      Vanhanen did not answer, when asked why he had been giving out statements for several years, in which he said that he did not know for sure who was financing the Centre Party in the elections, considering that it has come out that there had been a number of meetings with businessmen who had financed the party.
      On previous occasions he has also sidestepped questions about a meeting in Kesäranta, noting that he did not have a “recollection” of such an event.

More on this subject:
 Municipal pension boss obscured business contacts with Nova Group

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Prime Minister hounded by accusations of lying (18.6.2009)
  Prime Minister denies accusations of lying over campaign finance issue (17.6.2009)
  Vanhanen expects detailed report from Centre Party secretary on 2007 election funding (15.6.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat