Raši: Foreign Affairs Committee Should Address UK Election Interference Claims

Bratislava, 13 August (TASR) – House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) said on Wednesday that it is the House foreign affairs committee that should address suspicions of British interference in Slovakia's 2023 parliamentary elections and that he expects the committee to take up the matter at its next session. Rasi made the statement to TASR in response to Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) call for Parliament to deal with the issue of alleged election interference. "Given the foreign policy implications of this sensitive topic, I believe that the most appropriate and logical place to discuss it within Parliament is the foreign affairs committee. I therefore expect this committee to thoroughly address the issue at its next meeting," Rasi told TASR. He also stressed that any interference in the electoral process or a campaign is unacceptable. "Such actions pose a serious threat to the very foundations of our democracy and state sovereignty. Parliamentary elections must always be a clear expression of the free will of Slovak citizens. That is why any attempt to influence or manipulate the electoral process is absolutely unacceptable for me," he added. Fico said that he wants to determine whether the British campaign supported the opposition Progressive Slovakia party and whether spending limits were exceeded. Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Simecka dismissed Fico's statement as an attempt to divert attention from the scandal involving the ambulance procurement tender. At the end of July, Fico referenced an article by news website marker.sk, while alleging that the UK Foreign Office had funded so-called influencers through a media agency to sway the 2023 Slovak elections against Smer-SD and in favour of Progressive Slovakia. The UK Foreign Office has denied attempting to influence the outcome of the elections or encouraging voters to support or oppose any specific party. It stated that the campaign was aimed at motivating young people to engage in democratic processes by participating in elections. mf/df