Political party Unity was left “slightly injured” by the Krišjānis Kariņš’s special flights scandal and the scandal regarding the possible paying of envelope wages to the party’s workers, said Unity secretary general Signe Jantone in an interview to “Sestdiena” magazine, admitting that “the situation is very challenging”.
“The feeling is emotionally unpleasant, like a large and proud wounded bird. There are wounds, treatable wounds. I took this post knowing the situation,” said Jantone, adding that she knew “the kind of organisational climate” she entered.
The secretary general said it is possible the party had organisational problems that were missed. And now they are being used by others against us. “But I do not deny that we have to pull ourselves together. We cannot say: “Everything is fine, we’re being targeted.” We need to restart, start from a clear position. We have to organise what was less organised in the past, what was messy.”
According to her, Unity needs a clear order not only in accounting and record keeping, but also in relations with members, regional departments and voters. Order means explaining, informing and telling. “This is Signe Jantone’s plan for New Unity: clear, understandable, visible, non-ignoring criticism of regional chapters,” said the party’s secretary general.
Jantone explained the “envelope case” with internal changes in the party:
“I see the situation this way: in March 2023 New Unity and Unity came together at a seminar. It was there we agreed on reorganisation to ensure there is no need to spend administrative resources on topics that overlap for the two organisations. Intensive reorganisation started then. We talked to people – who wants to stay and who wants to go. The one person who started complaining and reporting envelope wages was offered the job of being the party’s regional coordinator in Kurzeme. We could see he was unhappy, so he agreed to leave. Then various applications started coming in – to the party and various institutions. We have taken an active position. We are prepared to cooperate with law enforcement institutions.”
Jantone could not say if there was payment of envelope wages in the party, as she has “no information about that”. “Knowing how the organisation operates, that it mostly relies on voluntary work, I believe there was no such thing, but I cannot say anything about that time. You will have to ask [Artis] Kampars. Time will will tell, but it’s no reason to do nothing,” said the secretary general.
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