Politicians take mainly positive view of Lipponen pipeline lobbying effort

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The announcement that former Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament Paavo Lipponen (SDP) is taking on a job as a lobbyist for the Russian-German company Nord Sream, which is planning to set up an undersea gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, brought both approval and critical comments from Parliamentary party group leaders and other politicians.
     Lipponen is in a unique position as a lobbyist, because he has free access to Parliament. He has an office in the Parliament itself, which was put at his disposal during the previous Parliamentary term to keep his files, and to write his memoirs.
     
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) sees nothing strange or inappropriate about Lipponen’s new job.
     "He has retired from all state tasks. He is no longer a member of the government or the Parliament, and is completely free to act in this matter. He has openly told about his appointment in advance, and said that he will be paid by the gas pipeline company. I spoke with Paavo Lipponen about this on Thursday", Vanhanen said on Friday after returning from his visit to China.
      Vanhanen emphasised that Lipponen knows the Finnish decision-making system and the history of the gas pipeline very well.
     
Vanhanen had no comment on the fact that the gas company Gazprom has close ties with the current Russian leadership.
     "I would not make any of these kinds of comparisons. Paavo Lipponen is the greatest of patriots. Finland has no interest in this gas pipeline. Central Europe needs more gas, and that is part of the future."
      Vanhanen also noted that former Prime Minister Esko Aho, currently the president of SITRA, is also free to change jobs.
      "It would be strange that people who are in good condition, who have much experience and many skills, would be pushed away from taking on further work. We do not have the kind of upper chamber where we could move former political leaders", Vanhanen said.
     "I will not start speculating on my own future", he added.
     
Social Democratic Party Parliamentary group leader Tarja Filatov sees the question of new jobs for ex-politicians to be problematic in general.
     "This has raised debate in other countries as well. I feel myself that when the new tasks are announced openly, as Lipponen has done, there is no problem. Everybody knows who he is working for. It would be much more dangerous, if a person’s influence and prestige were used in secret", Filatov says.
      Anneli Lapintie of the Left Alliance, feels that while politicians need to have the possibility to freely continue to work when the political careers are over, the Lipponen’s office in Parliament is problematic.
     "It is wrong if one lobbyist has better access than others to those in power. Should we give offices to the Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace?” Lapintie asks.
     Lipponen himself says that he is quite aware that the question of a conflict involving his Parliamentary office and his new job will arise. He says that he will use the office only for writing his memoirs.
     He emphasises that he will do his work as a consultant at his home office with his own mobile telephone.
     
Green MP Heidi Hautala, who has closely followed the gas pipeline project, sees Lipponen’s role as problematic. She feels that the case reflects a new culture of influence, in which companies seek lobbying power directly from the cores of power.
     "Environment Minister Paula Lehtomäki, among others, has emphasised that decisions on licences for the gas pipeline will be made purely on a legal basis. Is it the case that Lipponen has so much influence, that other aspects will be considered?" Hautala asks.
     Centre Party Parliamentary group leader Timo Kalli says that it is up to Lipponen to decide whether or not to relinquish is room in the core of the use of power.
     "He should be capable of evaluating himself if the situation has changed from when the office was given to him", Kalli says.
      Pekka Ravi of the National Coalition Party, does not want to take a stand on Lipponen’s post as a lobbyist.

More on this subject:
 Critical reactions in Estonia and Sweden

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Coastal states in Baltic Sea region reject tight schedule of planned gas pipeline (6.6.2008)
  Baltic Sea gas pipeline project facing big difficulties (10.3.2008)
  Ex-PM Paavo Lipponen to serve as adviser to gas pipeline builder (15.8.2008)
  Lengths of pipe for Baltic Sea gas pipeline arrive in Kotka (10.6.2008)

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