SaS: Interior Minister Using State Funds for Own PR Campaign

Bratislava, 24 July (TASR) – According to the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) is using state funds to improve his public image. The party highlighted two purchases of promotional materials with a total value of approximately €1.5 million, with SaS leader Branislav Groehling and MP Martina Bajo Holeckova (SaS) addressing the issue at a press conference on Thursday. According to Holeckova, one of the contracts is related to the Interior Ministry Days event, valued at €150,000. "Promotional items will be purchased for the ministry's day," she stated. Holeckova also criticised the government's spending of over €40,000 on promotional materials for the Cyril and Methodius celebrations, calling it excessive. "The contract includes items such as 15,000 stress balls, 15,000 raincoats and 15,000 packets of sweets," she said. The second contract, according to Holeckova, is worth around €1.4 million and includes the purchase of promotional items and gifts. "There is no available information on the quantities to be purchased," she noted, questioning how the contracted company can meet the terms without clear specifications. She added that such vague conditions create room for speculation. Holeckova believes that the ministry is purchasing the items to boost Minister Sutaj Estok's public image, which she argues should be done at his own expense. Groehling pointed out that these purchases are happening at a time when the state is consolidating public finances and introducing new taxes and increasing fees. "In a normal world and a normal country, consolidation would mean the state saving money," he stated. He warned that despite the need for financial restraint, reports of overpriced purchases at ministries continue to surface. According to him, Sutaj Estok is mocking the public with such actions. mf/df