Prime minister faces conflict-of-interest scrutiny over €35m state subsidy to Helsinki Garden

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) is under investigation by the Chancellor of Justice over a potential conflict of interest in the award of a €35 million conditional state subsidy to the Helsinki Garden multi-purpose arena project.

The Chancellor of Justice has sent an information request to Orpo regarding his involvement in the decision-making process for the project, which is being developed by SRV Yhtiöt Oyj. SRV’s majority owner, Ilpo Kokkila, has donated significant sums to the National Coalition Party (NCP) over the past 15 years, including direct contributions to Orpo’s campaigns.

Public law professor Timo Voutilainen said a minister is disqualified from participating in a matter if the decision could directly benefit a donor who has provided election financing. The Chancellor of Justice will assess the case under the general clause on disqualification in administrative law, which applies when an official’s impartiality is compromised by a special reason—such as receiving campaign funds from a party whose interests are at stake in the decision.

Voutilainen noted that a 2003–2010 case involving former Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre Party) established a precedent: Vanhanen had received €20,000 in campaign support from the Youth Foundation and later approved multi-million-euro grants to the same foundation while in office. The Constitutional Law Committee found no grounds for prosecution, but the principle of disqualification was engaged.

Orpo is required to respond to the Chancellor of Justice’s inquiry by the end of August.