The Constitutional Law Committee will start investigating the case on Tuesday. Sasi noted that there is a higher threshold for prosecution of ministers, which needs to be taken into consideration in decision-making. Sasi said that the committee would hear from Chancellor of Justice Jaakko Jonkka on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Jaakko Jonkka said that there had been a conflict of interest when Vanhanen had taken part in a decision on allocating funds earned by the state-owned Finnish Slot Machine Association to Nuorisosäätiö – a youth housing foundation that had contributed thousands of euros to Vanhanen’s 2006 Presidential election campaign.
Sasi said that the committee would ask Jonkka if there are any aspects that could come up in a police investigation that would be of crucial significance to Vanhanen’s actions as prime minister.
“To go over the prosecution threshold requires that an action be deliberate and negligent action. If a mere conflict of interest is in question, it often leads to a mere reprimand,” Sasi said.
The committee will also question Vanhanen himself, after which it will ascertain if there are matters which would need further clarification. After this, if a police investigation is found to be warranted, the committee will consult with the Prosecutor General to discuss exactly what aspects are to be investigated.
Sasi also expects that rules concerning politics are to be clarified.
Minister of the Interior Anne Holmlund, who was also interviewed on the programme, said that the investigation will not have a very dramatic impact on Finnish politics, because Vanhanen is no longer the Prime Minister.