What is currently happening in connection with “New Unity” is an organized black pre-election campaign, an operation by unfriendly foreign services with the aim of undermining the political party ruling in Latvia, or something else? More and more allegations about black money and influencing election results are coming to light in waves.
These claims are distributed and served in doses. Primarily, it is an organized campaign with defamation methods, a set of measures to discredit, to derail the ruling party from the ranks during the European Parliament primaries, to divert attention and take away the forces from the work to be done – properly and qualitatively in competitive conditions to inform the public about our offer in the EP elections , as well as issues of the arrangement of several sectors. Every minute, every minute of time we spend fighting back is good for the author of this script.
In the party, you must have talked, analyzed, and also asked the party member Artis Kampars mentioned in the allegations, what is really happening and why?
The first and foremost thing I want to say right now is that the party board has given me a clear task to clearly and precisely, purposefully go and check the real facts, conduct an investigation and, as a result of the internal investigation, come to the true picture of what has happened all these years. The amount of documents since 2011 is huge. A detailed investigation is currently underway.
I try not to be influenced by the opinions expressed in society, also by the opinions of former party workers. I will study the situation as it looks on our side from the point of view of documents, from the point of view of the testimony of existing employees. Next, of course, questions will be asked to former employees, including Artis Kamparas. I have not questioned him in detail at this time. I believe I need to prepare a set of questions.
The investigation is progressing rapidly. We put a lot of effort into it. Let’s see what the facts will show. Our goal is not to sweep anything under the carpet, but, on the contrary, to find out what the situation is, which is reflected in the facts, and then we will decide on legal tools. This is the absolutely main and primary task of ours at this moment. I would like to emphasize that none of the statements made in the public space have been confirmed by facts, meanwhile we are reacting to the events, providing answers to the public, members and the media.
Can the Secretary General do this amount of work alone? There must be an investigation team. It is a group of competent experts, lawyers and other types of specialists.
Also with investigative, cognitive skills?
I won’t go into detail, but high-level professionals with decent and relevant skills.
The President of the State has requested the Prosecutor General to clarify what is happening. Has any state security institution also shown interest in what is happening around the “New Unity”? The Office for the Protection of the Constitution and KNAB have stated that they know nothing about reports of attempts to falsify election results.
On Thursday morning, we ourselves sent a submission to the Prosecutor General with a request to perform all the necessary actions, checks on allegations regarding the election process. I haven’t had time to delve into what the media say, how the authorities comment on it. There is no other news yet.
Have the investigative authorities not shown interest, for example KNAB has not requested any information about influencing the election results?
We ourselves cooperate. On Monday, a few hours after the LTV broadcast, we sent KNAB both information and a submission with requests. We are proactive.
The State Security Service usually investigates cases related to influencing election results. Haven’t contacted you yet?
We are considering going there ourselves.
Do you have any guesses as to which political rivals, which parties might have organized such a campaign against your party?
Assumptions could be. However, I currently fulfill another duty and work very responsibly on the tasks given to me. I’m not dealing with assumptions right now.
When do you plan to complete the investigation commissioned by the party board? The volume is huge, I can’t predict right now.
Aren’t these scandals threatening to split the party?
Exactly opposite. The cohesion is very clear and we are very supportive of each other to find out all the circumstances of the case. Our “status quo” at the moment is that we have rallied internally and understand that together we will definitely overcome this upheaval. Responsible and honest people work in this union of parties. If any violations are found in the internal or external investigation, then it will be important for each of us to act accordingly, using all legal means.
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Tags: largescale investigation launched party
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