President's Office: Pellegrini Paying for His Private Stay in Croatia

Bratislava, May 16 (TASR) - President Peter Pellegrini has been engaged in a private programme in Croatia this week, with the two other top constitutional officials being informed about it in advance, the President's Office has told TASR in reaction to claims made by the opposition 'Slovakia' party that the head of state is on holiday in Croatia while reporting on his unofficial working agenda on his website. The president is covering the costs of his private stay from his own pocket, stressed the office. "Information on the prezident.sk website is updated automatically unless current content is added. The website's administrator has no reason to cover up the head of state's private programme abroad, as the president isn't hiding it and has met several Slovak citizens during his stay," said the President's Office. The website states that the president's unofficial schedule consists of meetings with employees, studying laws and preparing for negotiations. 'Slovakia' party leader Igor Matovic at a news conference on Friday criticised the president for reporting on false activities on his social media page. Matovic also claimed that, according to the information available to him, Pellegrini is spending time in Croatia on two luxury yachts. Although the president also has the right to go on holiday, he shouldn't hide and pretend to be working, stated Matovic, asking the president who paid for the yachts, how much his stay has cost and what has been spent on his protection. The 'Slovakia' party also criticised the president for not attending Thursday's (May 15) session of the Security Council, even though Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) spoke about the threat of an assassination attempt on another constitutional official. ko/df