KNAB’s publicly available information shows that in 2023 JV received almost one million euros from the state budget.
KNAB sent a letter of relevant content to the party at the beginning of August. Unofficial information shows that the violation is related to the fact that Sanita Stelpe-Segliņa, the former deputy general secretary of the party, received a salary from both the party and the Central Election Commission (CVK) at the same time.
Stelpe-Segliņa was the party’s acting general secretary until March 19 of this year, after the departure of Arta Kampars from the post of the party’s general secretary. On the other hand, the current composition of the CVK was elected on February 2, 2023. Therefore, it can be concluded that the law could have been violated in the period from February of last year to March 19 of this year.
On Friday afternoon, “” JV sent several questions: “Have you received a letter from KNAB about possible violations of party financing and possible termination of state funding? Is the violation related to the combination of Sanita Stelpes-Segliņas’ positions? Have you provided an explanation to KNAB?”.
The answer received was quite scanty, but it confirmed KNAB’s interest in the fulfillment of party financing norms.
“The association of political parties “Jaunā Vienotība” has received a letter from KNAB, in which it is requested to provide information and an explanation in connection with the fulfillment of the requirements of the norms of the Law on Financing of Political Parties and the use of state budget funding. The letter does not contain any information about the termination of funding,” stated JV’s reply.
On the other hand, KNAB promises “” answers within Monday.
The Law on the Financing of Political Parties stipulates that KNAB, after receiving information, makes a decision on stopping the payment of state budget funding, among other things, if it is established that a party has violated the law by illegally using the state budget funding allocated to it in the amount of more than 30,000 euros in a given year, and a decision on crediting of illegally used state financial resources to the state budget has entered into force, – for one year.
It should be reminded that Stelpes-Segliņa’s name has also been publicly mentioned in connection with previous scandals in the context of the JV – both in connection with the payment of envelopes in the JV and in connection with the use of the systems created by the IT company “SOAAR” for elections in the “Vienotības” congresses.
JV is currently headed by Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, who replaced Krišjāni Kariņa on June 14. On the other hand, the “Unity” party, which forms the party union JV, has been led for a long time by Finance Minister Arvils Asheradens.
According to the results of the 14th Saeima elections, 13 political parties and their associations were eligible to receive state budget funding in 2023. In total, party maintenance has cost taxpayers more than 5.6 million euros (5,675,351.04).
In 2023, “Jaunā Vienotība” received the most – 992,000 euros, followed by the Union of Greens and Farmers with 796,045 euros and the United List with 700,141 euros. Next comes the National Association (666,063 euros), “Stability!” (470,897 euros), Latvia First (442,244 euros), “Progressives” (448,548), PLI (290,055 euros), “Saskaņa” (330,518 euros), “Platforma 21″ (187,365 euros), ” Sovereign Power” (165,184 euros), and JKP (186,287 euros).
It has already been announced that on June 11, KNAB decided to suspend the payment of state budget funding to the National Union for a year, as the party has significantly exceeded the permissible limit of spending state budget funding for communication with society and political agitation in 2022. In turn, at the end of May, KNAB ordered the political party to repay all illegally spent 210,673.59 euros to the state budget.
KNAB found that the association exceeded the percentage limit that is allowed to be spent for one purpose of using state funding provided for in the Party Financing Law. Namely, the party spent 554,627.19 euros for communication with the public and political agitation, which is 210,673.59 euros more than the law requires. The National Union announced that it will appeal these decisions.
2024-08-19 03:52:04