According to Anthony Bellanger, IFJ’s general secretary, IFJ’s financial affairs have been reported to the Finnish Journalists’ Union.
of the IFJ general secretary Anthony Bellanger responds to the statements made by the Union of Journalists about IFJ’s activities in the petition sent to Helsingin Sanomat.
The International Federation of Journalists, or IFJ, founded in 1952, is the world’s largest journalist organization. The Finnish Federation of Journalists has been a member of the IFJ since 1956.
HS reported last week, that the Association of Journalists is seriously considering leaving its international umbrella organization. Be the first to report on it Journalisti magazine.
The president of the Association of Journalists Hanne Ahon according to the most pressing reasons behind intentions to leave are related to spending money. Aho told HS in an interview that there are signs of corruption in IFJ’s operations. According to him, the Union of Journalists practically does not know how the money is spent, and despite requests, does not receive information about the issues.
For Helsingin Sanomat in his e-mailed statement, Bellanger writes that IFJ managers receive monthly information about the collection of fees and other financial matters.
According to Bellanger, IFJ’s financial committee receives a financial report every quarter, and an updated financial report is sent to the board every six months.
In addition, according to Bellanger, the membership has the opportunity to examine and ask questions about the use of money at the annual union meeting.
According to Bellanger, in June of last year, IFJ was forwarded to an expert on international affairs by the Finnish Journalists Association Salla Nazarenko audited accounts for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. According to Bellanger, Nazarenko has also been sent a report prepared by the IFJ’s housekeeper, a budget and a report from the financial commission.
Clearing told HS in an interview that at the IFJ congress organized in Tunis in 2019, votes would have been bought with money.
At the congress held every three years, new decision-makers are elected for the union. Aho said in an interview that the Union of Journalists cannot prove the possible buying of votes. However, according to him, they had been told that this had happened.
According to Bellanger, he has researched the vote that took place in Tunis by interviewing the leaders of the different countries’ unions, delegates and IFJ staff who participated in the congress.
According to Bellanger, no witnesses, written statements, e-mails or photographs referring to vote buying were found in his investigation. According to Bellanger, investigating the matter was complicated by the fact that the complaint about possible vote buying was made 15 months after the congress.
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