RIGA, April 25 (LETA) - More than 40 candidates have already been removed from electoral lists ahead of this year's municipal elections, most often because they submitted false information on their applications.

Information compiled by LETA shows that when the submission of electoral lists ended in the first half of April, 5,975 candidates had been registered to contest 731 seats on municipal council in this summer's elections, but now the total number of candidates has dropped to 5,931, which means that 44 candidates have already been removed from the electoral lists.

Representatives of the Central Election Commission told LETA that a removal of more candidates could not be ruled out.

So far, four candidates have been removed from the electoral lists in Saulkrasti municipality, and Daugavpils, Ogre municipality, Riga and Saldus municipality have each seen three candidates being disqualified from running in the elections. In 18 municipalities, no candidate has been removed from the electoral lists.

The Central Election Commission told LETA that provision of false information about candidates was the most common reason why some candidates were removed from the lists.

The second most widespread reason for candidates' removal is information received from the relevant authorities about a candidate's criminal record, which prevents him/her from standing in local elections.

As reported, local elections will be held in Latvia in early June.