Democrats: Timber Logging Tender Discriminatory, Takac Should Scrap It

Bratislava, January 3 (TASR) - The extra-parliamentary Democrats party claims that a tender for timber logging worth €100 million is discriminatory, party spokesperson Martina Kakascikova told TASR on Friday, adding that the party has called on Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) to adjust or cancel the tender. "State-run forestry company Lesy SR, falling under the remit of Agriculture Minister Richard Takac, announced a megatender for almost €100 million for logging shortly before Christmas, obviously to make it more difficult to file objections. It concerns 3.2 million cubic metres of the calamity wood. Only companies that have logged at least 1.6 million cubic metres of wood in the previous three years can join it. However, this condition is unrealistic for the vast majority of entities operating on the market. We view it a discriminatory condition that could make the whole order overpriced. Local companies that could provide the same service more cheaply simply won't get into the tender," explained Michal Kica of Democrats, adding that the party has already filed a motion with the Public Procurement Office regarding the issue. "This reveals the true face of Slovak National Party (SNS) and Smer representatives: controversial timber logging contracts amounting to millions of euros tailor-made for unknown companies or for specific winners. I'm calling on minister Takac to at least modify or cancel this controversial tender," stated Kica. ko/df