The accusations from former Unity office worker Normunds Orleāns regarding the alleged payment of envelope wages “are made-up to discredit Unity political party”, as mentioned in the party’s statement on this topic.
“Accusations and serious claims presented by Orleāns to law enforcement institutions are false and were made up to discredit the political party Unity and target its workers, who want objective changes,” Unity representative Anna Ūdre explains the party’s position.
In its statement, Unity strongly condemns the practice of paying envelope wages and denies the accusations against it. In its response to Orleāns’ accusations,
the party stresses – it has never paid envelope wages, and it strongly condemns such a practice.
Since spring 2023 the party’s office has been in a state of reorganisation in order to improve everyday processes and make the work done by the office more efficient. This process means restructuring and partial optimisation of human resources, Unity representatives say.
Since the start of this process, however, the aforementioned ex-employee had been openly against these chances. In 2023 Orleāns started a verbal and then a written fights against the party and its management, Unity reports.
“Unity strongly condemns the payment of envelope wages and consequently supports efforts to put an end to such a practice in Latvia’s economy.
When the party’s board received the first signals from its member, all internal processes were activated to investigate the claims,” stresses Unity board chairman, Latvian Minister of Finance Arvils Ašeradens.
The party’s ethics committee met four times in 2023 and informed the board of the situation. The statements from Orleāns were reviewed, documents were looked at, and Orleāns and the people who spoke to were interviewed.
“In the end, the committee did not find confirmation for these accusations. Because the ethics committee does not have the authority to investigate administrative cases, the party commenced an internal audit, which has since concluded. No proof was found to confirm Orleāns’ accusations,” Unity representatives say.
On the 16th of November 2023 the party turned to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB), providing law enforcers with information regarding the accusations presented by Orleāns, and voicing the party’s readiness to cooperate and provide all the information the investigation may require. “The party completely trusts the work done my law enforcement institutions,” Ūdre explained Unity’s stance.
“The party cooperates with law enforcement institutions to provide all the necessary information. We have nothing to hide. The party takes Orleāns’ unjustified claims very seriously. Right now we are considering using legal means to defend our good name and reputation. The party has also decided to expel Orleāns from its ranks. The chosen time and tactic used in this scandal indicates that all of this was done intentionally to hurt Unity’s reputation,” Ašeradens.
Also read: Latvian president: possible payment of envelope wages in Unity requires careful investigating
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