Electoral Commission Launches Proceedings Over Loan for Pellegrini's Campaign

Bratislava, 27 August (TASR) – The State Electoral Commission has initiated proceedings to impose a fine on the Voice–Social Democracy party over its delayed disclosure of a loan used to fund the presidential campaign of current head of state and former Voice-SD leader Peter Pellegrini, the Interior Ministry's press department confirmed for TASR on Wednesday. The decision to begin proceedings was made by the State Commission for Elections and the Supervision of Political Party Financing at its session on Tuesday (26 August). The proceedings concern the suspected failure to fulfil obligations under the Political Parties Act. Under this law, a party is required to publish details of any received loan on its website within 30 days of signing the loan agreement. According to Voice-SD's annual report, the party recorded one loan in 2024 from the creditor Element Business amounting to €300,000. The loan was received on 26 January 2024 and repaid on 8 October 2024. The managing director of the company is Eva Pellegrini, the president's sister. Voice-SD claimed that the loan information was added to its website "immediately after an internal audit revealed the obligation had not been met". According to party leader and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, the party is ready to accept responsibility for administrative errors related to the financing of Pellegrini's presidential campaign. Sutaj Estok also emphasised that Pellegrini's entire campaign was funded by donations from members and supporters of Voice-SD. mf/df