Turku tram opposition campaign halts paid advertising due to EU transparency rules

A campaign opposing plans for a tram system in the Finnish city of Turku will no longer purchase advertising space, citing an EU regulation that requires political advertisers to disclose their funders, reports Yle.

The group, called Ratikkavaalit (Tram Elections), had previously raised funds for a high-profile ad campaign ahead of municipal elections in spring 2025. However, campaign organiser Janne Pöyhönen confirmed that no further paid advertising is planned before the city council’s final vote on the tram project in May.

Pöyhönen stated that the campaign now operates without funding, relying instead on volunteer work and free tools like email to lobby councillors. He acknowledged that the EU’s political advertising transparency rules, which took effect in Finland on 1 January 2026, played a role in the decision—but insisted the group would not have pursued another ad campaign regardless.

The campaign has refused to name its financial backers, with Pöyhönen claiming supporters fear “stigma” and potential business repercussions. “They have dealings with the city and worry about reactions if they take a strong public stance,” he said, alleging that city officials and the mayor’s office are “forcefully pushing” for the tram.

Finland’s National Audit Office, which oversees compliance with the EU regulation, confirmed that the rules do not apply retroactively. The 2025 ads—including a half-page spread in Turun Sanomat—predated the law’s enforcement. The regulation targets paid political advertising but does not cover direct lobbying of local councils, which falls outside the national transparency register’s scope.

Pöyhönen added that the Ratikkavaalit campaign will likely disband after the May vote, regardless of the outcome.

The proposed tram line would run from Turku’s port via the Market Square to Varissuo. The city council’s decision is expected to hinge on cost estimates, which were revised upward earlier this year, and political alignments within the ruling Social Democratic group.