Simecka: Fico Attacks My Family in Fear of Public Reaction to Consolidation

Bratislava, 20 September (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is attacking the family of opposition's Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka because he is at the end of his tether, fearing the public reaction to the consolidation or, better said, impoverishment, Simecka told a press conference on Saturday in response to Fico’s claims that his mother had misused public funds from subsidies in the period between 2020 and 2023. Simecka described Fico's statements as a disgusting attack on his family. "He is a man who has lived off our money and our taxes his entire life. He is a man who has ruined Slovakia, yet he dares to call my family parasites and fraudsters," stated Simecka. He added that the consolidation prepared by Fico's government is set to drive Slovaks into poverty, noting that Fico has turned everyone against himself, with his government betraying, for instance, trade unionists and firefighters, among others. Asked whether his mother had duplicated invoices, he said this issue should be addressed by the competent authorities. Simecka also criticised the Slovak government for remaining silent after Russian drones violated Estonian airspace, while focusing instead on his mother. "In addition to impending poverty, recession and high prices in Slovakia, we are also facing one of the greatest security crises within NATO since the end of the Cold War," he added. At a press conference on Saturday, Fico claimed that opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka's mother Marta Simeckova misused public funds from subsidies in the period between 2020 and 2023, and he presented the project of international event Central European Forum as an example. The event was organised by civil association Project Forum, with Simecka's mother as its statutory representative. According to Fico, based on cross-referencing the data, the civil association applied for funding for the same project from three different entities. Also attending the press conference were Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) and Culture Ministry State Secretary Tibor Bernatak who supported Fico's claims. jrg