Ruling party hid election campaign costs
11.06.2012, 10:05Current justice minister Kristen Michal declared smaller election campaign costs for the Reform Party than actual when still party’s general secretary, writes Äripäev.
There are several documents showing that the party’s leaders lied about election costs and showed them smaller than actual costs.
With the knowledge of party general secretary Kristen Michal, the party hid some of the election costs behind a private company Fidenter Ltd whose owners are hiding behind a Swiss bank account.
Although Fidenter provided more than 9 million kroons worth of services to the Reform Party in 2008-2010, the party has not declared the sums paid to Fidenter in its election spending reports.
Moreover, the party has paid Fidenter also in 2011, but has not disclosed exact amounts.
In 2009, Reform Party declared that its campaign costs amounted to 17.7 million kroons. At the same time the party paid 7.1 million k roons to Fidenter for publishing the propaganda leaflets, but this amount has not been declared.
Remo Tiigirand, CEO of Fidenter, confirms that the company published political propaganda for the Reform Party.
These publications form part of Reform Party’s election campaign.
Fidenter also acquired four brandnames used by the Reform Party – Reformikiri, Paremad Uudised, Eesti Teataja and Tallinna Teataja.
It is not known whether the Reform Party has paid anything to Fidenter for the four brand-names.
If it happens that the Reform Party did not pay anything to Fidenter for the brandnames, it means the party has received a benefit from the private company.
The party said that it has decided to file charges against accusations made by Äripäev.
Michal did not wish to comment the accusations to Äripäev yesterday at the general convention of the Reform Party.
Reform Party chairman Andrus Ansip said in his speech that Äripäev’s facts were untrue.
„We all know that this company has no other income than the Reform Party. And if it has no other income it cannot be financing the party,” said Ansip.