Premier Files Criminal Complaint in Connection with Volvo Plant Construction

Valaliky, November 28 (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) have announced the filing of a criminal complaint in connection with preparations of the area for the construction of the new Volvo car factory in Valaliky (Kosice region), citing the concealment of information about the high groundwater level in the area, which has led to additional costs of around €50 million, TASR learnt on Thursday. "We're filing a criminal complaint at the Prosecutor-General's (PG) Office against the perpetrators who concealed the fact that this area is burdened with groundwater. On the basis of this concealment, the state has spent €50 million extra, and we believe that this is a serious crime to which the Prosecutor-General's Office should respond by initiating a criminal prosecution and then filing charges," said Fico at the industrial park. According to the premier, the previous management of state-owned company Valaliky Industrial Park (VIP), which was in charge of the area, concealed two expert reports that warned of high groundwater. The prime minister also mentioned the Supreme Audit Office's (NKU) findings. Fico went on to say that additional measures taken by the former VIP management to address the problem cost roughly €25 million. "From the beginning everything was neglected, and when it was discovered that the area was burdened with groundwater and the new management came in, new measures had to be taken, which we've come to check now. It mainly concerns drainage, various draining measures. And this was another €24 million or so in total that we had to spend from state money," stressed the premier, blaming the current opposition, part of which was previously in government, for this state of affairs. The official construction work on the industrial park in Valaliky, where Volvo will produce electric cars, started in February 2023. The construction work is being prepared by VIP, a company set up by the Economy Ministry. am/df