PS Fined by Electoral Commission over Donations from Czech Republic

Bratislava, 17 September (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) has been fined €110 by the State Electoral Commission for accepting monetary donations totalling €55 from persons not having permanent residence in Slovakia, TASR reported on Wednesday based on the commission's resolution published on the Interior Ministry's website. The donations of €10, €15 and €30 were sent by three persons from the Czech Republic in 2024. Non-parliamentary parties Democrats and Team Bratislava are also facing proceedings for accepting donations in violation of the law. At the end of 2024, Democrats allegedly received €100 from the TechPark civic association. However, the law does not allow political parties to accept donations from civic associations. Team Bratislava accepted a donation of €8,000 from the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung foundation based in the Czech Republic, which is referred to in the party’s 2024 annual report as the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. In this case, the commission has launched the proceedings because the donation has been accepted from a legal entity based in a foreign country. Non-parliamentary party Alternative for Slovakia has been fined €5,000 over its failure to publish on its website, despite repeated checks, a list of persons donating amounts exceeding twice the minimum wage. The party was given another fine of €5,000 for failing to publish information about loans worth between €2,350 and €7,000 received in 2024. jrg