{"id":24081,"date":"2019-12-17T06:57:56","date_gmt":"2019-12-17T04:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transparency.lt\/?p=24081\/"},"modified":"2023-07-28T16:05:19","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T13:05:19","slug":"ti-lithuania-every-5th-euro-from-municipalities-publicity-budgets-goes-to-politician-affiliated-companies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/transparency.lt\/en\/ti-lithuania-every-5th-euro-from-municipalities-publicity-budgets-goes-to-politician-affiliated-companies\/","title":{"rendered":"TI Lithuania: Every 5th euro from municipalities\u2019 publicity budgets goes to politician-affiliated companies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every 5th<\/sup> euro from state and municipal budgets (1.4 M euros) and every 7th<\/sup> euro from European Union investments (10.6 k. euros) was allocated to politician-affiliated companies by municipalities to cover publicity costs. The money was received not only by media and public relations agencies, but also by construction, publishing, frozen foods and other companies. This updated information is available on the Transparency International Lithuanian chapter (TI Lithuania) website <\/strong>www.manovalstybe.info<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n

From 2015 to 2018 municipalities spent 7.8 M euros on publicity costs, out of which 80 k were from EU investments. The money was received by 363 companies, 35 of which were affiliated with politicians, making up one-fifth (1.4 M euros) of all publicity costs.<\/p>\n

Compared to other companies, companies affiliated with politicians signed higher value contracts with municipalities. An average contract value received by regular companies was 5\u00a0000 euros, meanwhile an average contract value received by politician-affiliated companies was 7\u00a0000 euros.<\/p>\n

The following politician-affiliated media companies received the most: \u201cRejspa\u201d (382 033 EUR), \u201cRoventa\u201d (141 468 EUR), \u201cAlytaus regionin\u0117 televizija\u201c(140 878 EUR).<\/p>\n

\u201cRejspa\u201d shareholders, among others, are Vanda Krav\u010dionok and Michal Mackevi\u010d, both members of Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania (elected with \u201cElectoral Action of Poles in Lithuania \u2013 Christian Families Alliance\u201c).<\/p>\n

\u201cRoventa\u201d is managed by Romas Venclovas, who during the grant period, was a member of Ma\u017eeikiai municipality council (elected with by \u201cLabour party\u201c).<\/p>\n

The shareholder of \u201cAlytaus regionin\u0117 televizija\u201d is the spouse of Tomas Pa\u010d\u0117sas – a member of Alytus city municipality council (from the public election committee \u201cFor Alytus\u201d).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that municipalities fund politician-affiliated companies is not an issue in itself. However, municipality representatives should be well aware that situations like these may pose a conflict of interest. Therefore, they should be able to clearly discern when to refrain from decision making and act accordingly\u201d said Sergejus Muravjovas, the CEO of Transparency International Lithuania.<\/p>\n

Based on the results of the analysis, TI Lithuania recommends:<\/p>\n