Helsinki  - Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen Thursday won a vote of confidence in parliament brought on by an ongoing political row over election campaign financing.

Finnish media have in recent weeks reported on several cases of questionable contributions to leading politicians and parties from businesses, trade unions and foundations.

The disclosures have generated calls for the premier to step down and the need to tighten rules on election funding.

The opposition Social Democrats, Left Alliance, Christian Democrats and True Finns joined forces in calling the vote. But internal divisions in the opposition - in one case among the Social Democrats over union contributions - meant that 40 Social Democrats ultimately abstained from the vote.

Vanhanen won the vote by 117-27, while 15 legislators were absent.

The prime minister has earlier this week rejected allegations in a Finnish news documentary that he received building materials free of charge from a construction company for his house, built 13 years ago.

The National Bureau of Investigation Thursday said it would not review the allegations, citing the statute of limitations.  dpa