Trade union confederation supports re-election of President Halonen

SAK denies reports of financial support to campaigns of top three candidates

Tarja Halonen

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The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) is denying that it has plans to contribute to the Presidential election campaigns of the top three candidates in the race.
      Matti Tukiainen, head of the member services department of the organisation, noted on Wednesday that the SAK's main decision-making body has taken a unanimous stand in favour of the re-election of Tarja Halonen.
     
There were reports earlier in the week that the SAK would contribute money to the campaigns of President Halonen, as well as those of the Centre Party Candidate, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, and the National Coalition Party candidate, European Investment Bank board member Sauli Niinistö.
      The SAK 's investment in the elections is to be in the tens of thousands of euros. Tukiainen says that a few thousand will be spent on President Halonen’s behalf. In addition, a few hundred will go to participation fees for SAK representatives taking part in seminars organised by the campaigns of Vanhanen and Niinistö.
     
Most of the money earmarked by the SAK for the Presidential elections is to be focused on persuading people to vote, and not on support for any specific candidate.
      Tukiainen recognises that there are members of SAK-affiliated unions who support candidates other than Halonen, and he urges them to be active on behalf of their own candidates.
      In the elections six years ago, the SAK did not formally endorse any candidate. However, during the campaign it was mentioned a number of times that Halonen had worked as a lawyer for the SAK.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Presidential campaigns getting into gear with shirts and trinkets (2.9.2005)

Links:
  SAK web site

Helsingin Sanomat