Parties spend nearly €2.8 million on pre-election advertising

Since the official pre-election campaign period began on 6 June, political organisations have signed contracts for limited campaign expenses totalling 2,779,923 euros as of 1 October, Latvia's anti-corruption bureau KNAB confirmed to the LETA news agency.

The precise final figure will be known next week. After the elections, parties must also submit income and expense declarations to KNAB, which will check whether actual spending matches what was declared.

Top spenders

The United List has spent the most so far, with contracts worth 590,565 euros. It is followed by the Union of Greens and Farmers at 451,479 euros and Latvia First at 386,423 euros. New Unity has signed contracts worth 372,751 euros, the National Alliance 236,516 euros, For Latvia's Development 223,367 euros, the Progressives 166,768 euros, and Sovereign Power/Jaunlatvieši Union 137,680 euros. Gobzems' List has contracted 97,941 euros, with other political forces spending smaller amounts.

Each political organisation faces a maximum allowed limit on restricted campaign spending of 1,039,582 euros. This limit covers both a party's overall expenses and the individual spending of its candidates, but excludes costs such as ad production, campaign planning, design work and consulting services.

Individual spending

Persons not affiliated with political parties may also spend money campaigning for or against a political force, but are capped at 11,700 euros. As of 1 October, no such person had declared any such spending.

KNAB notes that advertising providers and campaigners are required to inform the bureau of any signed advertising contracts within three days, even if the service has not yet been delivered or paid for. Parties may amend the information submitted to KNAB up until election day itself. The 15th Saeima elections will take place on 3 October.