For many years, the capital region’s Osuuskauppa HOK-Elanto has been known for its strong politicization. The cooperative has a history of supporting political candidates with significant amounts of money, which has raised concerns about potential corruption and favoritism in its relationship with politicians. However, in recent years, some S group cooperatives have adopted a strict no policy towards political subsidies, such as 25 years ago when the regional cooperative Arina in Oulu was found to have supported parliamentary election candidates with a substantial sum of money.
In response to these concerns, election financing has become more transparent, and many companies, including some cooperatives, have stricter attitudes towards supporting candidates. Despite this, there have been recent discussions about potential conflicts of interest and unethical practices surrounding the relationship between HOK-Elanto and politicians.
While decisions related to election financing and candidate support are often independent in many cooperatives, there are still ways for them to provide indirect support to candidates through meeting fees, discounts on purchases or other benefits. The composition of representative boards, the remuneration of board members and the election process can vary among cooperatives, with some allowing political parties to be represented in elections.
Overall, the relationship between cooperatives and politicians remains a topic of scrutiny and debate. While some cooperatives have strict policies regarding election support, others may still provide various forms of indirect support to candidates. Ultimately, the issue of political influence in cooperatives continues to be a complex and evolving topic in the business and political spheres.
