The group Kehittyvien Maakuntien Suomi (KMS), a political association funded by now defunct real estate development group Nova, was a contributor to Vanhanen's election campaign. After the election, Nova Group was dragged into the spotlight with suspicions of trading campaign financing in exchange for political support for development projects.
When the scandal broke, Vanhanen said he did not know who the real financiers were behind KMS. He told the media that the only name linked with KMS that he knew was businessman Tapani Yli-Saunamäki.
But Helsingin Sanomat obtained an email from Nova businessman Arto Merisalo to Vanhanen, in which Merisalo thanks him for co-operation and lists several names of KMS backers.
The paper claims that Vanhanen was in fact in close contact with KMS before and after the Parliamentary elections.
The email, sent before the elections, also outlined plans for a post-election thank-you party.
When Helsingin Sanomat approached the premier for a comment on the email, he said that it was impossible for him to remember a list of names from so many years back.
Commenting on Wednesday to YLE, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen reiterated his earlier claim.
