Finnish prime minister faces public questions on Helsinki Garden project

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo fielded sharp questions from the public about the controversial Helsinki Garden arena project during a live Yle A-studio broadcast on Wednesday evening.

Viewers submitted over 800 questions to Yle in just a few hours, with only a selection addressed on air. Orpo was pressed on why state funding was available for the arena while social and healthcare services faced cuts.

He insisted no money had been or would be released until the project met all government conditions. Orpo argued state investment in major projects was common when aiming to launch significant national initiatives, citing the arena’s potential to create jobs and boost Finland’s international competitiveness in sports, culture, and events.

Asked about his biggest mistake regarding the project, Orpo admitted he had failed to clearly explain its purpose, leading to public uncertainty.

He denied intentionally using outdated employment figures to justify funding, stating he had relied on data available 15 months ago when the conditional decision was made. All financial and employment impacts would be re-evaluated during further preparations, he said.

Orpo also confirmed he had not read messages from Helsinki’s former mayor, Juhana Vartiainen, which allegedly discussed manipulating the project’s approval process.

On why the government granted conditional state support despite opposition from the Ministry of Finance, Orpo explained the ministry had assessed a loan guarantee as riskier and more expensive than direct support. The decision was driven by the perceived value of creating a major cultural and sports venue capable of competing internationally.

Questioned about favoring Helsinki’s project over Vantaa’s planned Arena 3.3, Orpo stated no application for state funding had been submitted from Vantaa at the time. He added he had only recently been contacted by Vantaa officials and directed them to engage with relevant ministries.

Orpo said he had heard of Vantaa’s project but lacked detailed knowledge 15 months ago, unlike the long-planned Helsinki Garden, which Helsinki City Council had already approved in summer 2024 with broad support.