SaS: Britain Didn't Want to Influence Election, Premier Covering Up Other Issues

Bratislava, 29 July (TASR) - The United Kingdom didn't want to influence the election in Slovakia, opposition MPs for Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) Juraj Krupa and Maria Kolikova stated at a press conference on Tuesday in response to the statements made by Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) about alleged meddling in the Slovak election. The campaign, they added, sought to popularise the election among young people and even Slovakia has been involved in similar projects in the past. Krupa considers Fico's raising of the topic as a cover-up of Slovakia's internal problems. In his opinion, it could also be a "pre-emptive attack". "It is quite possible that in the near future we'll see more information coming out about further links of this ruling coalition to the Kremlin, to Russia, and these links will be of various natures. And this is supposed to be a pre-emptive strike to divert attention," he opined. Krupa pointed out that Robert Fico regularly comes up with accusations about an external enemy of the state, mentioning, for example, the alleged coup d'état being prepared or accusations against the North Atlantic Alliance of meddling in Slovakia's internal affairs. The MP added that Russia is a real threat to Slovakia. Kolikova is okay with mobilisation of voters by another country. "That's what the author of the article pointed out in the end, that there was some kind of support funding to make sure there is democracy here. After all, we claim to be a democracy. Robert Fico subscribes to democracy. After all, democracy is about people voting. Is Robert Fico afraid of the people? Is Robert Fico afraid that young people will go and vote and express their opinion? Because that's all this is about," she stated. At a press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Robert Fico claimed that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of Great Britain paid influencers via a media agency to influence the Slovak general election in 2023 to the detriment of Smer-SD and in favour of Progressive Slovakia (PS), referring to a story published on the marker.sk website. Slovakia will therefore summon British Ambassador Nigel Baker, from whom it will demand an explanation of all the details. am/mcs