Vanhanen and Kaikkonen silent about alleged misdemeanours at Nuorisosäätiö

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) and MPAntti Kaikkonen (Centre) did not comment in any way on an estimate made by professor Jukka Mähönen from the University of Turku, saying that Vanhanen and Kaikkonen may have been guilty of rule offences while chairing the Nuorisosäätiö youth foundation, which has contributed to the election campaigns of the Centre Party.
     
The rules of the Nuorisosäätiö foundation have been breached as its funds have been used to support political activities, Mähönen was quoted as saying in Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday.
      According to the rules, the sole purpose of the foundation is to support youth welfare.
      Mähänen estimates that the potential breach of trust could apply to all board members of the foundation who have been involved in awarding funds to support political campaigns.
      If a politician has been involved in granting election funds to himself or herself, the offence could be regarded as embezzlement, Mähönen added.
      Helsingin Sanomat asked Vanhanen for a comment on the legal scholar’s estimate in Parliament on Wednesday.
     
After considering for a while, the Prime Minister said that at the moment he would like to concentrate merely on the accusations made by the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE.
      Moreover, Vanhanen refused to discuss any other allegations than the accusations made on YLE’s weekly reportage programme Silminnäkijä (”Eye Witness”).
      The programme claimed on Monday evening that Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen had received building materials free of charge from a construction company that had built apartment buildings for Nuorisosäätiö. Vanhanen was chairman and deputy chairman of the foundation between 1981 and 2003.
     
Antti Kaikkonen replied to Helsingin Sanomat that he does not comment on the matter in any way but is waiting for an official report.
      At present Kaikkonen is attending a Council of Europe meeting in Stasbourg.
      Kaikkonen has also urged Jorma Heikkinen, the former managing director of Nuorisosäätiö, not to speak too much about the affairs of the youth foundation.
     
The National Bureau of Investigation, Finland's central criminal police arm, announced on Tuesday that it would be examining the claims made on Monday's programme.
      The maximum penalty for a potential breach of trust is two years in prison and for embezzlement 18 months in prison.
      When it comes to Vanhanen, both crimes are past the statute of limitations, while in Kaikkonen’s case the time for prosecution has not expired yet.
      The National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (PRH) has also launched investigations into alleged misdemeanours at Nuorisosäätiö.
     
Two weeks ago, Kaikkonen announced his resignment from the position of the Chairman of the Board of Nuorisosäätiö.
      The support of more than EUR 23,300 awarded by the foundation to presidential candidates was made public then, leading to strong public criticism.
      In the same connection, it also turned out that Kaikkonen was on the board of Nuorisosäätiö, while at the same time receiving election funding for himself from the same foundation.
      Vanhanen acted as the chairman of the board of Nuorisosäätiö from 1998 to 2003. On Saturday, he reported that he had been awarded approximately EUR 5,000 to 6,000 by the youth foundation during the period he was acting as the chair.
     
Master of Laws Simo Lämsä, who was appointed as the new chairman of the board of Nuorisosäätiö on Monday, stressed openness.
      ”It is better that all activities are transparent. It is likely that the most significant revelations have already been made”, Lämsä noted on Tuesday.
      Lämsä took up the task on the initiative of Kaikkonen. In fact, Lämsä was a member of the board of Nuorisosäätiö already in the 1980s and 1990s.
      Lämsä was asked whether it was an established practice to support politicians of the Centre Party already then.
      ”I do not have a clear recollection of such support having been discussed at board meetings then”, Lämsä replied.
     
Lämsä’s first task is to secure that Nuorisosäätiö will complete the investigations into its activities.
      These investigations are being conducted by the Finnish Slot Machine Association (RAY), PRH, and by the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA).
      When questioned whether Nuorisosäätiö has violated the rules, Lämsä said that he is not willing to give any comment until PRH has issued its report.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Vanhanen goes on offensive against YLE over corruption allegations (30.9.2009)
  YLE claims: PM Vanhanen received building materials from construction company free of charge (29.9.2009)
  RAY Chairman Vihriälä resigns in midst of election funding furore (23.9.2009)

Links:
  Nuorisosäätiö
  The National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (PRH)
  The Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA)