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Constitutional Law Committee May Need More Time in Vanhanen Case

The Constitutional Law Committee of the Finnish Parliament may need more time to consider whether or not allegations of a conflict of interest involving former Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen warrant a criminal investigation.

Perustuslakivaliokunta kokoontuu eduskunnassa perjantaina.
Perustuslakivaliokunta kokoontui eduskunnassa perjantaina. Image: YLE

The chairman of the committee, Kimmo Sasi, said on Friday that the committee will still interview the Prosecutor General as well as two professors specialised in conflict of interest matters.

Sasi pondered the schedule on Friday after the committee had interviewed the Chancellor of Justice

Jaakko Jonkka, who was called in for a second time on Friday, had appeared before the committee earlier in the week. He was recalled after Vanhanen had met with the committee on Thursday.

In Jonkka’s view, Vanhanen had a conflict of interest when he took part in a decision on allocating funds to a housing foundation that had contributed money from earnings of the Finnish Slot Machine Association to his Presidential election campaign.

Sasi said that Vanhanen would be asked for more information, and predicted that the committee might not be able to reach a decision next week as it had hoped.

He said that there are still some differences between the accounts of Jonkka and Vanhanen, and that no narrowing of the gap has occurred.

Sources: YLE