Energy | Hjallis Harkimo demands the ministers’ resignation due to the Uniper crisis: “I told Pekka Lundmark that these deals should not be made”

Liike Nytin chairman, member of parliament Harry Harkimo demands the Minister of Ownership Tytti Tuppurainen (sd) and the Minister of Labor and Economic Affairs Mika Lintilän (middle) difference.

As justification for his demands, he cites the involvement of the ministers in the implementation of the Uniper transactions of the energy company Fortum and in handling the crisis. Harkimo blames Tuppurainen for the 8 billion euro financing that Fortum gave to Uniper in the winter as collateral for gas sales contracts.

Part of the financing was guarantees, part was a shareholder loan. The German Uniper has already spent the money so far, so Fortum would probably lose at least part of it.

“People don’t realize how big money billions are,” says Harkimo.

Other opposition parties have also demanded measures from the government and Tuppurainen in the energy company Uniper’s crisis.

Read more: Sari Essayah believes that Uniper will collapse “at these energy prices” – Party leaders in MTV’s exam: No more Finnish money for the company

Harkimon in his opinion, Lintilä should, on the other hand, as minister of ownership control in 2017, block the deals and “be better informed about the contents of the deal”.

“This is quite a historic situation, where it is possible to lose a quarter of Finland’s budget,” says Harkimo.

In 2017, Lintilä said he sees Uniper strengthening and supporting Fortum. According to him, “there are always risks involved in business”.

This week, Lintilä said in an interview with HS that Uniper’s problems are due to Germany’s failed energy policy.

Read more: “The Uniper transaction raises questions” – This is how politicians commented when Fortum became Uniper’s major owner five years ago

Read more: Minister of Economic Affairs Lintilä: “Uniper’s problems are the cause of Germany’s failed energy policy”

Harkimo was himself a member of parliament of the coalition of the ruling party in 2017, when Fortum became Uniper’s major owner.

According to Hjallis, the responsibility for trade is of course distributed more widely, but “ultimately lies with the ministers”. Harkimo also emphasizes that he has already spoken out against the stores in previous years.

“Yes, I said Pekka for Lundmarkthat these transactions should not be made”

Lundmark was the CEO of Fortum at the time. Harkimo also says that he has commented on the matter In Kauppalehti in 2019. At that time, Fortum acquired the majority of shares in Uniper.

Harkimo says that Russia was not taken into account enough in the deals.

Harkimon own relationships With Russia, they have also received criticism. Harkimo sold its ownership of the former Hartwall arena to Finnish Russian oligarchs Gennady Timchenko and by Roman Rotenberg for companies in 2013.