Longtime Unity Member Orleans, who is also a Member of Marupe Municipality Council, says the envelope wages practice began around 2017, when the party was experiencing financial difficulties. Orleāns reportedly objected when receiving the first envelope, but he was promised that as the financial situation of the party improves, official payment of salaries will be resumed, as well as all taxes for the previous period will be paid.
The politician told the program that in addition to the official salary, he received €650 in an envelope. The politician also allegedly saw similar envelopes on the desks of other colleagues.
Without waiting for the promised tax payment, Orleans approached both the party's board of directors and individual party politicians, but no results followed.
In relation to the situation, Orleāns has turned to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB), the State Revenue Service, the State Labor Inspectorate and the Prosecutor General's Office, as well as the State Data Inspectorate regarding possible violations in the storage of personal data.
The KNAB confirmed to the programme that it has received submissions from both Orleāns and the party and is examining them.
The chairman of Unity, Finance Minister Arvils Ašeradens, disagrees with allegations about paying envelope wages. The party reportedly conducted an internal investigation, and staff was polled, but no one knew anything like it.
