The government approved €35m in support for the Garden Helsinki events venue project chaired by former Helsinki Mayor Jan Vapaavuori (NCP).PM Orpo (NCP) spoke to the media at a hastily convened press conference outside the Government Palace on Tuesday afternoon. Image: Mikko Stig / LehtikuvaYle News17:00Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) called a snap press conference on Tuesday afternoon to respond to swirling questions about the controversial Garden Helsinki construction project.Opposition politicians have demanded an investigation into the government's decision to earmark 35 million euros in support for the new home arena of the HIFK ice hockey team, a venue which will be known as Garden Helsinki. The project is chaired by former economic affairs minister and Helsinki Mayor Jan Vapaavuori, a National Coalition Party colleague of Orpo.Former economic affairs minister and Helsinki Mayor Jan Vapaavuori (NCP) Image: Matti Myller / YleAccording to the prime minister, the NCP presented the Garden Helsinki project to its government partners as one of its targets in the spring 2025 midterm budget negotiations.On Tuesday, Orpo stressed repeatedly that the decision was a preliminary one."This state support is conditional on the implementation of the project, meaning that not a single euro will be paid before the project actually starts," the premier told reporters."Inspiring" projectThe project ended up in the NCP's "basket" of negotiation goals because it was "inspiring" and because the construction industry needed stimulus, he said.The old Helsinki Ice Hall. Image: Ville Maali / YleAccording to Orpo, the process is equivalent to that involving the Tampere Arena."Large projects do not fit into the normal budget. That is why these are decided separately by each government. If there are more projects, they will be evaluated," he said.Orpo denied that the decision involved any favours for NCP campaign donors. He added that he considers the public accusations of structural corruption to be serious.Professor: Possible signs of corruptionEarlier on Tuesday, Pekka Viljanen, a professor of criminal and procedural law, told Yle that the case may however feature aspects of structural corruption. He said that the Chancellor of Justice should investigate the project’s financing.Orpo said that he did not personally push for the decision, but declined to say who within the NCP specifically did.Orpo also denied that the decision to build the Garden Helsinki project involved any kind of favour for the National Coalition Party's election funders."The discussions with Jan Vapaavuori were very brief. I have not negotiated about the decisions with Vapaavuori," Orpo said.Orpo further denied providing false information about the employment impact of the project."I have not provided false information. The employment impacts were based on information at the time of the decision. Since then, the project has been scaled back," he noted.The opposition's concerns will be addressed and answers will be sought, Orpo added.Furthermore, Orpo said he believes it is important that the Chancellor of Justice investigate the matter and review the complaints that have been filed regarding it. The Chancellor’s office has received at least six complaints about the case.Opposition demands transparencyThe opposition, led by SDP chair Antti Lindtman and Movement Now leader Harry Harkimo, has demanded transparency regarding the project. Harkimo is the former owner of HIFK's traditional crosstown rivals, Jokerit.They have criticised the opaque rationale and the decision-making process behind the 35-million-euro state subsidy. The PM's own role in advancing the issue has also come under scrutiny.Garden Helsinki said in May that the 400-million-euro project could be completed by 2031 if work starts next year. Plans have been afoot for a decade to build a large new arena adjacent to old Helsinki Ice Hall. Originally, hotels, apartments, and offices were to be built around the arena, but as of now the project has been scaled back to a 19,000-seat multi-purpose arena.