Sutaj Estok's Ministry Rejects Criticism of Interior Ministry Day

Bratislava, 21 July (TASR) - The opposition criticism of the way in which the Interior Ministry Day event has been organised has been rejected by the ministry under the leadership of Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD), ministry spokesman Matej Neumann told TASR on Monday in response to statements made by former interior minister Roman Mikulec earlier in the day. Neumann added that the ministry wants to present all its components at the event and that the money spent on the preparations is also a tool for gaining the public's trust. Mikulec ('Slovakia', 'For the People', KU) at a press conference on Monday criticised the fact that the organisation of the event is being outsourced and that it will be held at an exhibition centre in Bratislava. According to Mikulec, the ministry is set to pay almost €700,000 to organise the event, and the price may go up even further. "However, Mr. Mikulec seems to have forgotten that he himself organised a Firefighters Day on 6 September 2022 at the Incheba Exhibition Centre and an Interior Ministry Day for Little Ones on 10 June 2023. And he did this without bothering to inform the public what the actual contribution of these events was," emphasised Neumann. According to the spokesman, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) doesn't want the ministry to hide behind closed doors and impenetrable walls. "He wants people to be able to see who protects them, how we function and what we contribute to the security of this country," stated Neumann. Organising the event is not an expenditure but a public service, therefore, he said. am/df