Roma Union Files Criminal Complaint Over Matovic's Promise of €500 for Voters

Presov/Bratislava, December 14 (TASR) - The Slovak Union of Roma civic association filed a criminal complaint with the Presov Regional Prosecutor's Office over the 2023 election promise of €500 for every voter, aimed to motivate turnout, and called on 'Slovakia' party chair Igor Matovic to meet his promises towards the Roma, Union chair Frantisek Tanko stated at a press conference on Thursday. According to Tanko, the Roma were fleeced by Matovic. "Many inhabitants of Roma settlements have reached out to us recently with a problem caused by promises made by Matovic and the Pollak lawmaker family. It was the promise that if they voted for them, they would get €500. People who believed this borrowed money from usurers and now find themselves in great financial problems. Matovic and the Pollaks willfully and grossly lied to and abused the poor Roma, knowing that they [the poor Roma] wouldn't be able to comprehend completely their misleading promises and would vote for them in the hope of receiving a fast and easy windfall," said Tanko. Tank hopes that the law enforcement will investigate the matter and hold the responsible persons criminally liable. He also called on the authorities to address the problem. mf/mcs