KNAB opens eight election campaign cases and issues four warnings

Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has opened eight administrative proceedings over possible campaign violations and issued four warnings, LSM reports. The bureau says it has not found any major violations in campaigning ahead of parliamentary elections.

KNAB has received 115 reports of possible violations since the campaign period began, including 15 concerning the possible use of state or municipal resources for campaigning. The remaining reports relate to possible covert campaigning and breaches of other restrictions. About a quarter of the reports are still under review. The bureau currently receives an average of five reports a day and expects that number to rise as the election and the so-called silence days approach.

Three proceedings involve two individuals and one political party for failing to submit campaign notices. Another concerns the use of a workplace for campaigning. Four parties are facing proceedings over campaign materials displayed in public places without identifying who paid for them. KNAB says some suspicions have not been confirmed, while other cases involved shortcomings that were corrected.

The transparency organisation Delna has also seen no major changes in the way campaigns are conducted, but both it and KNAB say political campaigns are increasingly using artificial intelligence. They expect campaigning on social media to continue during the silence days.