KDH and PS: Firms of Fico's Family Have Received Millions in State Money

Bratislava, September 3 (TASR) - Opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) and Progressive Slovakia (PS) warned on Tuesday that firms with family ties to Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) have been receiving money from the state. "A firm called Agentura Smer, s.r.o., controlled by Prime Minister Robert Fico's son, concluded a contract worth €9,418.10 with the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Office in Presov on March 20, 2024. This agreement provides contributions to cover operating costs of a 'protected workforce' company. There were several similar contracts worth tens of thousands of euros dated from the time when the firm was controlled by Robert Kalinak. This doesn't change the fact, however, that a company, in which Prime Minister Robert Fico's son is an executive, will receive almost €10,000 from the state in this year alone," declared MP Martina Holeckova (KDH). Holeckova pointed out that the Prime Minister had stated last week that he would resign if state contributions were given to his family. Fico said this in his criticism of PS head Michal Simecka, whom he wants to oust from the post of House Vice-chair over the fact that some foundations, which had received state money, are linked to Simecka's relatives, such as his uncle, mother and partner. "Hence, I'm asking Robert Fico whether he will stay true to his word and step down as Prime Minister," added Holeckova. Simecka pointed out that, unlike Smer-SD, PS has never been in the government and thus has never had any clout over state money. He added that in 2009 more than a million euros had gone to Fico's cousin Rastislav Rybansky to restore Topolcany Castle. "This was greenlighted by the government office at the time when Robert Fico was prime minister. In addition, Fico's cousin let a firm owned by Fico's uncle carry out a portion of the works. And this same uncle, Ladislav Rybansky, received construction commissions worth more than one million euros from various villages and entities in districts such as Topolcany and Partizanske in 2019-2024 alone," underlined Simecka. This equals more than two millions worth of state subsidies and commissions for Fico's close family, not to mention contributions for Fico's wife and son, added Simecka. "Applying his own logic, he should unequivocally resign. The bulk of this, moreover, was passed when he was the prime minister and the leader of the senior governing party. Because of this, theoretically, he could have had direct influence over the subsidies and commissions, unlike Progressive Slovakia, which has never been in any government." mf/mcs