Jan Vapaavuori resigns from lobbying firm Geradin Partners amid Garden Helsinki funding controversy
Former Coalition Party politician Jan Vapaavuori has stepped down from his role as senior advisor at the lobbying firm Geradin Partners following the Garden Helsinki arena controversy. Mikko Alkio, a shareholder at Geradin Partners, confirmed to MTV Uutiset that Vapaavuori’s departure was voluntary, and his profile has since been removed from the company’s website.
The resignation comes after the Finnish government decided on Monday not to allocate €35 million in state funding to the Garden Helsinki project, a proposed multi-purpose arena in Helsinki. Yle reports that Vapaavuori had directly contacted Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in an attempt to secure the funding.
Vapaavuori, who also serves as the chair of the Garden Helsinki project, stated that he no longer felt he could continue in his position at Geradin Partners due to the controversy. Helsingin Sanomat has also covered the developments surrounding his departure.
Geradin Partners engages in lobbying activities, and Vapaavuori’s resignation follows heightened scrutiny over his involvement in the project. The decision to withdraw state funding has further intensified debate over the arena’s future.
