Political party For a Humane Latvia (previously known as KPV LV) has illegally used Latvia’s state budget financing and will therefore not receive EUR 646 303 from the state this year. On top of that, if the party does not return the money, the already thinned party will come at risk of termination.
On 13 January Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) made the decision to put the payment of state budget financing of EUR 646 303 to the political party For a Humane Latvia for one year, as confirmed by KNAB.
This decision was made in accordance with Law on Financing of Political Organisations because KNAB found that in 2020 the party in question had illegally used the state budget financing of more than EUR 300 000.
The party has the right to appeal KNAB’s decision, which came into force on Monday, 17 January. However, appeal of the decision does not halt the decision. In addition, the amount in question needs to be paid back to the state budget within 30 days, otherwise KNAB will have the right to decide on the termination of the party’s operations.
BNN had previously reported that in accordance to the law, political party For a Humane Latvia was paid funding from Latvia’s state budget worth EUR 85 387 in 2019, EUR 643 369 in 2020 and EUR 643 369 in 2021.
On Monday, 17 January, nine political parties were paid state financing of EUR 1.9 million to nine political parties and political associations from the state budget in Latvia.
Harmony was paid EUR 400 000, New Conservative Party was paid EUR 319 570, Attīstībai/Par! was paid EUR 293 482, National Alliance – EUR 286 628, the Union of Greens and Farmers – EUR 253 483, New Unity – EUR 221 241, Latvian Association of Regions – EUR 84 685, Latvian Russians Union – EUR 71 904, and Progressive party received EUR 53 806.
KNAB continues inspecting information provided by political parties for 2020, including information on the use of state budget financing. KNAB will inform society of the finding after the end of inspections.
In accordance to the law, political parties and political party unions that received more than 2% of votes are to be paid EUR 4.50 from the state budget for every vote received in the last Saeima elections and EUR 0.50 for every vote in European Parliament elections and EUR 0.50 for very vote in municipal elections over the course of the calendar year. Parties that receive more than 5% of votes in the last Saeima elections are to be paid an additional EUR 100 000.
The law dictates that KNAB is in charge of paying state budget financing to parties from an account registered in a credit institution located in Latvia. Payments are performed twice a year.
The 14th Saeima elections are set to take place in autumn this year.
Corruption watchdog: For a Humane Latvia has illegally used state budget funding
