“Theres no corruption in Finland”, besides which we’re on holiday.
@ 10:43 pm FFT has been somewhat silent of the recent politicial events in Finland. Of course this is smoking gun evidence of censorship, but as the reality is not quite as sinister I’ll do something to rectify the situation now that the database has finally stopped hiccuping.
The proverbial shit hit the fan in May, from a very offhand statement over election funding. The law passed in 2000 states that MP’s should make a public notice of donations that were over 1700 euros from a single donor. The Centre parliamentary group leader Timo Kalli went ahead and made a statement in A-studio tv talkshow that he hadn’t disclosed some of his biggest donors - and wouldn’t - as there weren’t any sanctions for not disclosing the donors. Now a parliamentarian who had himself been drafting the very legislation showing such a disrespect to the law got people, both in the parliament and the public, to demand if not his head on the platter some other organs put in a vice.
After Kalli had let the cat out of the bag, several more MP’s got a miraculous cure from amnesia and donors started to appear on the lists. A curious “association” that had donated money to several Centre party candidates was “Kehittyvien Maakuntien Suomi” (Finland of Developing Provinces) that after several weeks of hounding by the press was shown to be made up at the Centre party office, and the funds it redistributed were mainly by a quintet of businessmen with their hands in real estate and other development projects in the “provinces”. Now having a “friendly politician” has always been a businessman’s wet dream, and even if it was only dreaming, a few statements that have been published make the ties too close for comfort.
There were a few other than Centre party candidates who got money from the association, but most of the money was channelled to the Centre. The Centre party claimed to have had no knowledge over the dealings, until it came into public that not only the Centre party officers had been involved in the association, but namely the head of development had been in access of the bank accounts and made money transfers. Of course, both the head of development and the party secretary have taken a sick leave. The prime minister has distanced himself from the scandal and is now in Japan learning the art of public harakiri.
The public uproar has achieved something - there is an agreement of donation caps, 3000 euros in the municipal elections and 6000 in the parliamentary. As a gentlemen’s agreement it is to be passed as a law - though if there will be sanctions that remains to be seen.
There is a lot of articles on ths case and its slow unfolding and the squirming of politicians in the HS International Edition. The latest one today, but theres going to be a lot more unraveling. The question of the opposition trying to topple the Prime Minister isn’t quite out of the question, and the Centre Party is having its own annual meeting shortly and the discussion there can also get somewhat heated.
Well, Einstein said this back in 1949:
“…Private capital tends to become concentrated in few hands, partly because of competition among the capitalists, and partly because technological development and the increasing division of labor encourage the formation of larger units of production at the expense of smaller ones.
The result of these developments is an oligarchy of private capital the enormous power of which cannot be effectively checked even by a democratically organized political society. This is true since the members of legislative bodies are selected by political parties, largely financed or otherwise influenced by private capitalists who, for all practical purposes, separate the electorate from the legislature.
The consequence is that the representatives of the people do not in fact sufficiently protect the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population. Moreover, under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education).
It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights…”
http://www.monthlyreview.org/598einst.htm
Comment by tim73 — Mon, Jun 9th, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
Timmy Timmy Timmy. Good to see you back in shape and bashing the evil free enterprise system.
To bad the system works so well without a Government, Nanny state, intervention. We all know its those evil Government regulations and rules that breed a econemy with no growth, like you europeans have.
Come on, get a Billionaire please.
Comment by winter “Yea, Proton Power, now in remission” — Tue, Jun 10th, 2008 @ 12:39 am
Glad you brought this up, finally.
why is it, that even though it is in the news about every day and we here more lies and stupid excuses from politicians, while we are presented with some hard facts, that I really do not believe there will be any consequences for this government!
All we will here is that they made a bad judgement. (soft) Slap on the wrist and please proceed as ususal.
Comment by majava — Tue, Jun 10th, 2008 @ 12:42 am
What is the usefulness of having a political climate wherein virtually every major party is corrupt in one way or another? People use the government as a ‘tool’ to get what they want - always at the expense of someone else. If they can’t do it legitimately, then they do it underhanded. That’s always been the way it’s done in Finland, and it doesn’t matter which party because they all do it.
Finland badly needs a Libertarian party and new ideas. Keep up the good work, Phil.
Comment by Seppo — Tue, Jun 10th, 2008 @ 3:31 am
Tim73 - “Well, Einstein said this back in 1949: ‘…Private capital tends to become…’”
“Gold in the hands of the people is an enemy of the state.” - Adolf Hitler
Comment by Adolf Hitler — Tue, Jun 10th, 2008 @ 4:16 am
The silence here was notable. Probably the biggest political story here in a few years and no posts. I wonder how long it would have taken Phil if the scandal hadn’t involved the right parties, and business donations?
Comment by Rich — Tue, Jun 10th, 2008 @ 8:24 am
Yes, what took you so long? +1 to Hank, for the effort. I mean… I’v been visiting FFT every day hoping to read something about this and all I get is some stand-up comedian?
@4. The reason that this is mainly focussed around Keskusta is because I think Kepu voters think along the lines you describe. And I am still amazed every day how this country is in the grip of a bunch of farmers, forest owners and ultra conservative thinkers. Keskusta is also the reason why Kokoomus’ more progressive policy is watered down.
Comment by majava — Tue, Jun 10th, 2008 @ 10:52 am
Keskusta dont care about Hesari. Country side is different world.
Comment by Ahas — Tue, Jun 10th, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
I agree with #1
Comment by x — Tue, Jun 10th, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
Sigh… we have apparently learned nothing from that unfortunate incident five years ago when my namesake was caught fibbing. It is VERY BAD FORM INDEED to have a government meltdown just before Midsummer. It annoys everyone, and causes the sausages to get burnt. When will they learn that these things should be organised in October, between the last warm days of summer and Father’s Day, the traditional overture to Christmas?
Big ups to Hankie-Pankie for actually addressing the only serious topic in town. Phil shows what a limp-wristed wannabe he is, but then again he’s had a hard year selling his soul and mobile phones.
Oh, and lest we forget… it isn’t ONLY Kepu who have got caught with their fingers in the IdeaPark jar. There are a good many upstanding Kokoomus boys and girls with awkward questions to answer, and there’s another Matti who is looking a bit red-faced (and not out of a sense of Social Democracy).
Comment by Anneli — Tue, Jun 10th, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
I think the reason Phil and (quite obviously because of the lack of comments) the rest of us have been ignoring this story is that it:
A) is complicated
B) requires a basic understanding of the politics behind the politics
C) is not about oral sex, sms messages or something simple
D) is not about millions and millions of euros
E) is in some cases related to the forestry industry
F) the politicians in this country are not really held very accountable by the media, and seem to get kid gloves most of the time
G) is boring (see reasons A, B, C, D and E)
Comment by Dave the Revelator — Wed, Jun 11th, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
I don’t think it’s boring at all. But complicated yes. That’s why I have largely avoided blogging it too… it’s hard to know where to start, and some new rumour comes along every second hour.
I must admit, I’m looking forward to watching the Centre party fall to bits this weekend. Already they have had a power struggle going on between the idiot Korhonen and (the marginally less idiotic) Vanhanen. With this scandal, they really should manage to meltdown at their conference. And good for it. I like seeing Centre going though pain (not being their biggest fan).
Comment by Jonas G — Wed, Jun 11th, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
I suspect Rave the Devilator has hit the nail on the head, though I trust he is as ashamed as all the rest. And what is carried in A) and B) above is of course significant: this blog is hot to trot on the simple, populist stuff, but when something comes up that actually requires a knowledge of the place that is beyond someone who’s been living here with his eyes and ears covered by lack of language access, it gets dropped in favour of something more in the Daily Dross department. Sometimes, however, a blog should do what it says on the tin.
If one believes Kääriäinen, the ENTIRE THING is a fiendish plot to dish poor Matti, who has of late been the media’s favourite chewy toy, largely of his own making.
It would almost be worth getting a party card to go and watch the hi-jinks in Joensuu. If it weren’t for the football on TV, I’d be sorely tempted.
Comment by Anneli — Wed, Jun 11th, 2008 @ 7:21 pm
Dave, I suspect you might be right that this is too boring for a lot of people (although what a sad indictment of society that is). However, for a blog that sets itself up as: “Politics, current events, culture - In Finland” it’s rather criminal to ignore it. Maybe Phil should drop the pretence of semi-objective political commentary the banner implies.
Comment by Rich — Wed, Jun 11th, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
Well, trying to give some excuse: This happened just around the same time the blog got hacked. And as I seem to be the only political animal with a scent I was chasing poon in Paris for a fortnight. So Phil was otherly occupied and I only got my account fixed only after I came back.
Summer is a bit boring politically, the parties have their meets but usually it isn’t anything dramatic. Though now that SDP chose a young woman as the chair (and not Tuomioja) - an apparent move to revitalize their image - and the Centre party meet going to be a slingfest regarding the party funding as some people got more than others…
The very “Finnish thing” happening is the squirming. And then the silence of certain of the “old guard” who know the game too well. I knew despite it being boring it was something to at least mention briefly. It gives an insight to one of these “everybody knows but nobody tells you” kind of aspects of the society.
Comment by Hank W. — Thu, Jun 12th, 2008 @ 9:40 am
#15 Thanks, Hank for writing about this. Let’s hope the “independent” Finnish press actually writes analytical articles about this. My interpretation is that the “unspeakable” has been spoken and now requires giving up some of the false public myths, but that there is some hope that if we collectively close our eyes, nothing has happened. It is one thing to publicly repeat the mantras and privately diss the politbyro. But it’s another thing to publicly discuss the extent of corruption in our politbyro and economic life. Currently there must be so many people on the take that the private shame creates a strong intensive to just silence the topic to nonexistence. And many regular wage earner-voters are convinced that also this will pass without any permanent change in the system, so why not ignore it and go swim in the lake?
Comment by Mara — Fri, Jun 13th, 2008 @ 10:45 am
Sigh….
Mara has clearly either been in a coma for the past four weeks or speaks not a single word of the language. ANY language. This subject has been the only show in Finntown, which of course makes it all the more lamentable that this blog has contented itself with DVDs and fart-jokes.
Comment by Former reader — Fri, Jun 13th, 2008 @ 10:53 am
One thing that may pop up… “Corruption” is since 2006 been a “public crime” in that anyone can file an investigation with the police as well as the public prosecutor. Before that it was only an “asianomistajarikos”so only a wronged party could raise an investigation.
Comment by Hank W. — Fri, Jun 13th, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
In Finland the statistics are counted in a tricky way!
Comment by Pauli — Fri, Jun 13th, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
I must be a dumb ass! I’ve been here in Finland for a long time, almost a decade infact. I understand alot less than I should here aftger being here so long, and tend to keep myself to myself, in my own private safe world. I have heard about this issue ofcourse on TV and in the papers. But to be honest I didn’t get the big deal. But thanks the HANK W. I got a clue. I think this is an interesting story. But I also think nothing will change. I don’t get to vote here; only pay my taxes and try not to get an addiction to alcohol. So, in retrospect, I guess I haven’t missed much. In atleast I can’t as a person do anything about it anyway. Only waste time in a dream someone actually cares who does vote to do something about it.
Comment by me — Fri, Jun 13th, 2008 @ 9:16 pm
Former reader:
“which of course makes it all the more lamentable that this blog has contented itself with DVDs and fart-jokes.”
Every blog should stick to its most appropriate intellectual level. Though I do miss Kristian’s in-depth analysis on the effect of this on consumer prices of sauerkraut.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Sat, Jun 14th, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
But I also think nothing will change.
How appropriate. Well, the Centre party showed true the old modicum “he might be a crook but he is *our* crook”. Well, now that a couple of the young ones came out and confessed of “acting before thinking” the Centres party secretary (Jarmo Korhonen) won his opponent with a massive vote, a public apology got the brownie points. Matti Vanhanen .. should I say “of course”… continues further 2 years as party chair.
Hrmpf… less drama than in the SDP chair vote.
What can I say only but “this is Finland” and give a shrug.
Comment by Hank W. — Sat, Jun 14th, 2008 @ 8:08 pm
Every blog should stick to its most appropriate intellectual level.
Yabbut Frank that would mean someone would have to come up with funnu fart jokes… shits and giggles…
Comment by Hank W. — Sat, Jun 14th, 2008 @ 8:11 pm
# 22. Yep, yep, this is truly Finland. Keskusta declared the media guilty and Korhonen said he will “learn from his mistakes”. And now we will move to Karpela-Saarinen’s divorce.
I’m sometimes wondering if it is only in Finland that people consume politicians the same way they consume soap opera characters, providing purely entertainment value? Don’t people in other countries also expect good governance? Even in countries that are lower on the corruption list than Finland?
Comment by Mara — Sun, Jun 15th, 2008 @ 1:01 am
Hank:
“Yabbut Frank that would mean someone would have to come up with funnu fart jokes… shits and giggles…”
We’re trying our best with racist stereotyping in another thread. Not as funny or as intellectually rewarding as fart jokes, but one’s gotta start somewhere. Perhaps I was giving too much credit in assuming that the latter represent the appropriate intellectual level here.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Sun, Jun 15th, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
#24 The only problem is Finns are so… boring. I mean the televised debates are a narcosis injection. Look say at Spain - they get some Caudillo marcing in (ok that was a long time ago), in S-Korea they got fistfights, Italian parliament is quite lively too… the Finnish… blaa blaa blaa and empty room most of the time.
Comment by Hank W. — Mon, Jun 16th, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
#26: When they try to be lively, the results are not very pretty: take Soini, pathetic monotonous whiner, Jaakonsaari calling the cabinet a midget when addressing Mauri Pekkarinen (kikkelis, kokkelis) or Halme, who is simply certified white trash.
Maybe we should assemble the Parliament from Romanian beggars? Couldn’t be much worse. It’d be a win-win, the pay is pretty good after all.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Mon, Jun 16th, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
Concerning Kepu…the only thing they managed to resolve was whining about the Lords of Helsinki and Russels requiring the junttis to clean up their shit. Figures.
I’m looking forward to the sweet smell of hydrogen sulfide from rotting algae.
Comment by Freeridin' Franklin — Mon, Jun 16th, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
Nice blog.
Comment by Laura Schwarzmann — Tue, Jun 17th, 2008 @ 7:02 am
Naislaulaja.
Comment by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf — Tue, Jun 17th, 2008 @ 12:14 pm
Interesting post Hank. I think one expert said that so little corruption is perceived in Finland because nobody ever used to use the word “korruptio” in Finnish when speaking of corruption in Finland. Corruption is seen as something systemic that happens in corrupt countries and what happens in Finland is seen as mere bribery.
Is there something to that perception? Finns involved in bribery are seen as only committing bribery without most Finns seeing that it is the same phenomenon, corruption, as that we discuss when speaking of bribery in other countries.
Of course there is an easy explanation. As Finns don’t perceive corruption as systemic here, the corruption that actually exists is not called corruption. Bribery in Finland is seen as an exception to the rule, while bribery in other countries is seen as an organic part of a foreign country’s system.
I guess it’s really about everyday life. In many countries an ordinary citizen needs to commit bribery in order to get ahead with the simplest of issues. In Finland corruption exists more generally higher up, so ordinary citizens don’t have to acknowledge the existence of it in their everyday language.
Comment by Helsinkian — Wed, Jun 18th, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
I guess thats one of the things - the “average man on the street” doesn’t seem to be able to pay anyone to lubricate the wheels. Theres been a few rare cases - but I don’t see in Finland any official asking for a “gift” to expediate your case.
Then again if you think of someone wanting an operation… so you pay to cut the queue and get operated as a “private patient”. Corruption? bribery? So where you draw the line is also the question.
The higher up you get then there comes a question of corruption, or mutual backrub society - cash money exchanging hands is rare, but say someone getting a lot for a summer cottage on a lakeside for very cheap…
Comment by Hank W. — Thu, Jun 19th, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
I read about this about two weeks ago on Bloomberg.com. Sounded like Finland’s version of McCain-Feingold didn’t work out too well. But then again, there was a closing remark in the Bloomberg article where they said something to the effect that no government is immune from corruption.
Well, tell us something we don’t know!
Comment by Jason — Sat, Jun 21st, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
hi all of you that dont care what this says… peace!♥
Comment by hola — Tue, Oct 21st, 2008 @ 11:42 pm