YLE also highlights foundation abuses in the Social Democrat camp
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The Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE), currently sharing the headlines with the politicians following Monday's controversial current affairs report on possible abuses in a charitable foundation close to the Centre Party, has also pointed the finger at the opposition Social Democrats.
According to the public broadcaster's Swedish-language news service, SDP candidates have received election funding from foundations in violation of the foundations' own rules.
YLE cites the case of Urheiluopistosäätiö ("The Sports Institute Foundation"), a body established in 1952 with the intention of supporting sports and physical education in the country.
It is alleged that the foundation has backed SDP election candidates such as Tarja Halonen in her presidential election campaign and former Olympic swimmer Jani Sievinen in his bid to become a member of the European Parliament earlier this year.
Urheiluopistosäätiö's Yrjö-Olavi Aav reported to the Finnish News Agency (STT) that the foundation bought artworks to a value of EUR 10,000 from the Social Democratic Party.
Sievinen was backed with EUR 1,400 through participation in one of his election campaign seminars.
Aav does not himself see anything very strange in the actions.
The foundation supports sport, physical exercise, and associated education policies and gathers money to this end through its property and investment operations. "With this, our own money, we buy things and do as we wish within the framework of the rules and the powers granted by the Board", says Aav.
"We can even buy pictures for the wall."
According to Aav, the foundation is not in receipt of any state grant funding.
The SDP has disclosed the support it has received from the foundation.
The Urheiluopistosäätiö Council is headed by former Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament Paavo Lipponen, who also led the Social Democrats from 1993-2005.
The foundation's Board Chairman Markku Pohjola was Jani Sievinen's campaign manager for the June elections to the European Parliament. Sievinen was not elected.
More on this subject:
 YLE's Jungner might resign if journalistic judgement proves wrong
Helsingin Sanomat
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