Opposition Accuses Kalinak of Overpriced Purchases and Cross-ministry Spending 2

Bratislava, May 29 (TASR) - The Defence Ministry, led by Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD), is funding the expenditures of other ministries, which means that those funds are then lacking for other defence-related purposes, opposition lawmakers warned in Parliament on Thursday. Tomas Valasek (Progressive Slovakia) pointed to personnel shortages in most units of the armed forces. Juraj Krupa (SaS) questioned what funds are being allocated to NATO objectives, while Gabor Grendel ('Slovakia'-For the People-KU alliance) also drew attention to overpriced contracts and reconstructions. The opposition made these remarks in connection with Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) visit to the Defence Ministry for an inspection day. "What the defence minister and deputy prime minister has actually managed to achieve in roughly a year in office is to bring chaos into modernisation efforts, to drain money from the ministry that should have gone toward defence, to demoralise people who might have been interested in joining the active forces or reserves, and to isolate us from the allies that we will absolutely need for our own defence," said Valasek at a press conference. Valasek also pointed to chaotic procurement processes at the ministry. "We've calculated that he's either already signed, announced or contracted projects worth about seven billion euros —without presenting any plan or vision for what the Slovak armed forces should look like," he explained. He added that the ministry is funding the construction of hospitals and the reconstruction of bridges, but this means that money is then lacking for the ministry's own needs. "We don't have money for the things that soldiers actually need; we have major personnel shortages in most units of the armed forces," he said, adding that the ministry is also using outdated equipment. Krupa criticised the prime minister's inspection days at the Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministries. "The Defence Ministry has become a kind of all-embracing ministry that essentially covers all the activities or deficiencies of other ministries," he said at a press conference, noting that roughly one-third to one-quarter of the defence ministry's budget is going on hospital investments. Krupa questioned whether any funds are being directed toward NATO capability targets, actually strengthening defence readiness, carrying out the ministry's tasks, or developing a heavy brigade. According to Grendel, Kalinak is repeatedly failing in his role. He stated that the minister knowingly violated a constitutional law regarding conflicts of interest by not disclosing ownership of a house in Croatia. Grendel also criticised Kalinak for overpriced projects at the Defence Ministry. "One example is the reconstruction of the former Hviezda dormitory, which was originally meant to serve as accommodation for soldiers and Defence Ministry employees. Under the previous government, this building was to be renovated for €30 million. Under Robert Kalinak, the total cost has now risen to €60 million. Moreover, the building will no longer be used for service accommodation, but instead as new headquarters for the Defence Ministry," explained Grendel, adding that the minister is conducting non-transparent procurements and buying "unnecessary, overpriced items that are not needed by the ministry or the military". Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said earlier in the day that there has recently been a significant boom in the defence industry and ammunition production in Slovakia. After Thursday's meeting with the defence minister, Fico stated that the ministry has so far fulfilled 75 percent of the objectives set out in the government manifesto. He also said that more soldiers are now joining the Slovak army than leaving it and that high-quality infrastructure for soldiers is being built. mf/df