The Finns Party member stated that the ruling made by Chancellor of Justice, Jaakko Jonkka, was very clear -- he had concluded that the research funding granted in the Himanen case should have been subject to a competitive tendering process.
The Parliamentary Group Chair lamented the fact that the non-competitive bidding did not attract penalties or sanctions.
Himanen decision "sends bad signal"
“The decision sends a bad signal to the entire public sector which makes large and expensive purchases every year” said Ruohonen-Lerner. Transparency and fairness are a must, she added, stating that the decision sets a bad high level example for those lower down in the system.
“In my own political career I have seen many public contracts that have not complied with the legislation as they should,” said Ruohonen-Lerner. “Our system has a problem, in that they can break the law in regards to public procurement and not incur any liability for it. Such practices are rampant.”
Fellow Finns Party Minister of Parliament Pentti Oinonen has announced that a vote-of-no-confidence against Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen (NCP) will be considered over the weekend.
“Oinonen has every right to consider this issue,” stated Ruohonen-Lerner. “Probably next Thursday the matter will be considered in a group meeting.”