Pääministeri accused of misleading parliament over Garden Helsinki project

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stands accused of providing false information to parliament regarding the Garden Helsinki development project, opposition lawmaker Pia Lohikoski of the Left Alliance said on Tuesday.

The accusation centres on claims that Orpo misrepresented official civil service backing and projected employment benefits when briefing lawmakers. Lohikoski, the Left Alliance’s second vice-chair in parliament, filed a written question on the matter earlier this month.

“The prime minister gave the impression that there was civil service support and employment effects, but this was not the case,” Lohikoski told Yle’s morning programme.

She described the alleged misinformation as “the most serious matter” and noted that Orpo has neither apologised nor explained why parliament was misled. Lohikoski contrasted the situation with a 2019 episode when, as an opposition leader, Orpo demanded the resignation of then-Prime Minister Antti Rinne over similar allegations.

Other critics, including Green Party MP Mari Holopainen, have also characterised Orpo’s statements as misleading. Holopainen said the project’s projected employment figures were self-reported and lacked independent verification.

“If a €35 million subsidy is approved with figures provided by insiders tied to party financing and election donations, it raises serious questions,” Holopainen said.

Pia Kauma, first vice-chair of the governing National Coalition Party, rejected the accusations. She said the government made only a preliminary decision on the project last year as part of a broader €4.7 billion investment package, and no final decision had been taken.

Kauma acknowledged lobbying errors but emphasised Finland’s strong performance in international corruption rankings and said all suspicions would be examined. The Chancellor of Justice is already investigating Orpo’s potential conflict of interest in the project and his ties to Ilpo Kokkila, majority owner of construction firm SRV and a known political donor.

Kauma dismissed any link between the project and political financing, calling such suggestions “deplorable” given that Kokkila has shown little support for the scheme.