The police have initiated criminal proceedings for possible purchase of votes in Jēkabpils / Article

The State Police has initiated criminal proceedings for possible purchase of votes in the Zemgale region, Jēkabpils, in an interview with the Latvian Television program “Morning Panorama”, Lauris Arājs, Deputy Head of the Main Order Police Department of the State Police, said.

The case was initiated under Article 90 of the Criminal Law on the purchase of votes.

Arājs pointed out that there is another separate case in Jēkabpils polling station, where there is information about possible vote buying. The elastic examination started there.

Violations have also been identified where agitation has taken place during the quiet period – ie no campaign posters have been removed during the quiet period.

Arājs emphasized that for any observed violations in connection with the local elections, call 110. Within the framework of cooperation, the police may also forward the received information to the State Security Service or the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau.

CONTEXT:

This time, the municipal elections took place within the new borders, introducing the county reform, which envisages the establishment of 43 instead of 119 municipalities in Latvia. However, the elections took place in 40 constituencies.

Constitutional courts judgment because of canceled elections in Rēzekne region, where the voting will take place on September 11. Also in September, elections will take place in Varakļāni region, which was initially included in Rēzekne region, but for the time being it has been decided not to add it to other regions, because the Saeima was unable to agree on a decision to execute the Constitutional Court judgment.

In turn, elections will not take place in Riga municipality this year, because the council was elected in extraordinary elections last year and will continue to work until the 2025 elections.

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