Political parties declare high campaign expenses ahead of European Parliament elections

  • 2019-04-17
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Political parties have so far declared EUR 360,543 as their campaign expenses ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections, with three parties - For Development/For, Harmony and Latvia’s Russian Union – accounting for two thirds of that amount, according to information released by the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB).

For Development/For has declared EUR 83,335 as its campaign expenses, Harmony has declared EUR 77,629 and Latvia’s Russian Union EUR 76,325.

The Union of Greens and Farmers trails with EUR 39,817 spent on their election campaign, New Unity follows with EUR 33,816, the National Alliance with EUR 19,176, the Progressives with EUR 18,409 and the New Conservative Party (JKP) with EUR 10,853.

The Latvian Association of Regions (LRA) has spend EUR 1,000 on its campaign, KPV LV EUR 74 and Latvian Nationalists EUR 109. Five other small parties participating in the European Parliament elections claim to have spent nothing on their campaigns.

The campaigning period ahead of the European Parliament elections officially started on January 26.

Parties and electoral alliances that have registered their candidates for the elections can each spend up to EUR 430,221 on their campaigns.

Latvia, which has to elect eight lawmakers to the EU legislature, will hold the European Parliament elections on May 25.