TV report says Nova Group paid part of costs of Kanerva birthday celebration

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A current affairs programme on the commercial television network MTV3 says the Nova Group real estate development company paid for some of the expenses of the lavish 60th birthday celebrations of MP Ilkka Kanerva, who was the Minister for Foreign Affairs at the time.
      According to the programme 45 minuuttia (“45 Minutes”), the company also paid the costs of printing of invitation cards for a Kanerva birthday event in Helsinki. At Nova’s request, the invitations bore a picture of a lion with more than a passing resemblance to the lion on Finland’s official coat of arms.
     
The printing shop which produced the invitations confirmed to the journalists behind the story that the bill was paid by Nova. Company personnel helped with the arrangements of the party.
      On the programme itself, Kanerva would not answer a journalist’s questions on who paid for the party.
      Many key figures in business and politics attended the event, and 45 minuuttia said that Nova Group had a hand in choosing whom to invite.
      According to the programme, the management of Nova Group live a life of luxury at the expense of the company’s creditors. The programme claimed that the company, which owes nearly EUR 400,000 in back taxes, has also failed to pay its other creditors on time.
     
The Nova Group surfaced in the news earlier this year as one of the main backers of Kehittyvien maakuntien Suomi, an organisation that was behind the campaign financing of several candidates in last year's Parliamentary Elections.
      MPs' failures to report the source of their campaign support led to widespread speculation that influence was being sought by shady means.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Prime Minister warns of political crisis stemming from election campaign money affair (21.5.2008)
  CEO of Nova Group claims Centre supports real estate company in zoning issue (30.5.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat