Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has commenced two administrative violation procedures over possible violations of pre-election campaigning rules by Ainārs Šlesers’ owned Latvija pirmā association.
KNAB will check if the association committed any violations of the rules that govern promotion of initiation of law. Political parties and other sides involved in promotion, association included, have certain restrictions they are obligated to follow during pre-election promotion and situations when residents are invited to vote for legislative initiatives, KNAB comments.
To check if the promotional materials glued onto buses in Liepaja and printed materials, such as the newspaper Latvija pirmā, meet the requirements and restrictions listed in the Law on National Referendums and Law on European Citizens’ Initiative, KNAB has commenced an inspection.
In those promotional materials there were calls to sign a petition in support of natural families.
KNAB found that the materials glued onto buses of JSC Liepājas Autobusa parks and printed materials meet the definition of initiation of legislative acts by Latvija pirmā assoiciation. Liepaja municipality is Liepājas Autobusu parks’ minority shareholder (34%). More than half of the company’s shares (59.82%) are owned indirectly by the families of Andris Šķēle (67%) and Ainārs Šlesers (33%).
KNAB found that the association in question may have breached the law. Additionally, the association did not list who paid for the promotion and did not submit to KNAB a notification regarding the distribution of promotional materials. On top of that, the association is believed to have exceeded the maximum amount of money permitted to be spent on promotion of this kind.
Since regulations provide administrative liability for such acts, KNAB will decide on an administrative penalty for the association and prohibition for it to perform future promotion. Additionally, the excess the association spent on promotion will have to be paid back to the state budget.
KNAB continues its investigation of a charity concert tour Gaisma krīt, which is also used a means to promote initiation of legislative acts.
BNN previously reported that a charity concert tour called Gaisma krīt has started in Latvia. The tour is dedicated to families. Among the participants are musicians and representatives of political party Latvia in First Place Jolanta Gulbe-Paškeviča and Deniss Paškevičs.