Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) defended the government's handling of the Garden Helsinki funding decision as Parliament met on Tuesday for an extraordinary summer session.Over 70 speeches have been delivered during the debate.Addressing MPs, Orpo said the government's decision to grant conditional support for the project had been intended to stimulate Finland's struggling construction sector, create jobs and attract more visitors to Helsinki.He rejected allegations that the decision had been influenced by the project's backers or by political donations."I have and we have acted in the manner required by election funding legislation," Orpo said.Orpo acknowledged that the project had changed significantly since the government granted it conditional backing during its 2025 mid-term budget talks."The project has been delayed, its financing is uncertain and the competitive situation has changed," he said, adding that those changes were why the government had decided to withdraw its political support for the 35-million-euro funding commitment.He also admitted the controversy had damaged public confidence."A shadow has fallen over the support decision that transparency has not dispelled."Opposition seeks vote of no confidenceDespite the explanation, the opposition announced it would seek a vote of no confidence in the government.Social Democratic MP Johannes Koskinen said the government's handling of the project had weakened public trust in political decision-making and raised concerns about whether all projects were treated equally."For these reasons, the opposition believes the government no longer has Parliament's confidence," Koskinen said. Image: Henrietta Hassinen / YleThe Centre Party, Greens, Left Alliance and Movement Now all backed the SDP's no-confidence motion.Chair of the Centre Party Parliamentary Group Antti Kurvinen questioned what the government's coalition partners had gained from supporting the project.Green MP Saara Hyrkkö, argued the case had raised concerns about structural corruption."The question is how such a large amount of state aid can be decided with such vague information and processes, especially in a situation where state finances are already weak and there are also competing projects awaiting decisions," Hyrkkö said.She added that it also raised questions about "to what extent this is structural corruption and whether the prime minister has given false information."Left Alliance chair Minja Koskela was even more blunt."If it looks like a duck and moves like a duck, it is probably National Coalition Party crony capitalism."Koskela argued that the 35-million-euro funding commitment was especially difficult to justify, as the government has repeatedly defended major spending cuts by saying public finances are too tight. Image: Henrietta Hassinen / YleMovement Now's leader Harry Harkimo also criticised what he described as the "sloppy" handling of the project."It is very worrying if the prime minister truly believes everything has been done correctly," added Harkimo.Government parties back OrpoGovernment coalition parties, however, rallied behind the prime minister.National Coalition parliamentary group chair Jukka Kopra stressed that no state money had actually been paid because the funding decision had always been conditional. The Finns Party, Swedish People's Party (SPP) and Christian Democrats also reaffirmed their confidence in Orpo.Finns Party parliamentary group chair Jani Mäkelä said his party had "always been very critical of all kinds of scheming, old boys' networks and ambiguities in decision-making.""Every tax euro deserves careful consideration and a transparent decision-making process," Mäkelä said, adding that the Finns party " want Finnish taxpayers' money to be used openly and responsibly, and we are ready to work in government to ensure that."Opposition broadens criticism to Valmet Automotive rescueThe opposition MPs also questioned the government's decision to support the rescue of the Valmet Automotive car factory in Uusikaupunki.Last October, the government committed around 120 million euros to help secure the future of the factory. In the debate, it was pointed out that around one-fifth of the company is owned by an investment firm founded by mining executive Ilpo Kokkila, a long-time National Coalition Party donor who has also personally contributed to the Prime Minister's election campaigns.Government ministers rejected any suggestion of impropriety.Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) defended the investment as sound industrial policy."It is good industrial policy. It creates significant prospects for economic growth. That is exactly what countries across Europe are doing as traditional industries are transformed into new ones," Häkkänen said.Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand (SPP) also backed the decision, saying the rescue package had prevented the company from going bankrupt.Häkkänen said the government had answered questions about both the Garden Helsinki project and the Valmet Automotive decision during the debate, adding that the facts would become clearer as the discussion continued.Vapaavuori resignsSeparately on Tuesday, Former NCP minister and Helsinki mayor Jan Vapaavuori, who chairs the Garden Helsinki project, resigned on Tuesday from his advisory role at lobbying firm Geradin Partners following the controversy.Vapaavuori was chair of the Garden project. Image: Markku Ulander / LehtikuvaIn a statement released on Monday, the company behind the Garden Helsinki project said it was disappointed by the government's decision to withdraw its political support, but would continue seeking financing. It added that it still hopes to secure state support in the future, provided the project progresses further and the government establishes a process for considering such funding.Story is getting updated.Edited to add in criticism surrounding the funds given to rescue Valmet Automotive factory .