PS: Changes in Amendment to Public Procurement Act Create Room for Corruption

Bratislava, March 28 (TASR) - Changes in the third version of the amendment to the Public Procurement Act create room for corruption and clientelism, including limiting the powers of the Public Procurement Office (UVO) and removing its chairman without giving a reason, opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) stated on Thursday. "Limiting the powers of the authority, removing its chairman without giving a reason, appointing a vice-chairman appointed by the government, increasing financial limits not covered by the Public Procurement Act, and reducing the rates of fines - this is a dangerous cocktail of changes presented by [Investment] Minister [Richard] Rasi [Voice-SD] and [Transport] Minister [Jozef] Raz [a Smer-SD nominee]. And on top of all that, a lot of amateurish mistakes," said PS MP Jan Hargas. PS pointed out that it will only be possible to use the state procurement system from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., despite comments on the amendment. "This is, of course, nonsense, which we pointed out, and this only proves Minister Rasi's lack of interest in professional discussion," added Hargas. am/mcs