Prime Minister Petteri Orpo knew the Ministry of Finance had opposed state backing for the Helsinki Garden arena before the project secured a €35 million conditional support pledge, one of his closest aides has said. Katri Manninen, Orpo’s political special adviser, told Helsingin Sanomat that the project advanced as a National Coalition Party target with at least Orpo’s approval.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo knew the Ministry of Finance had opposed state backing for the Helsinki Garden arena before the project secured a €35 million conditional support…

Several opposition parties are demanding greater transparency over the government's decision to award the project a 35-million-euro investment subsidy.