PS: Tender for Slovensko.sk May Favor Linked Firms

Bratislava, 22 October (TASR) – The National Agency for Network and Electronic Services (NASES), which operates under the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization (MIRRI), is requesting compatibility with a specific product from the Czech company Barclet in a tender for IT solutions for the Slovensko.sk online platform, but Barclet is linked to the current service provider of the online platform, GlobalTel, MPs Michal Truban and Jan Hargas (both opposition's PS) warned at a press conference on Wednesday. Moreover, the product in question cannot be located publicly. "These two companies are interconnected. They are linked by specific statutory representatives: Mr. Jozef Chamraz is a board member at GlobalTel, Ms. Gabriela Sedmidubska is a statutory representative at Barclet, and both are co-owners of a third company in the middle of it all. It is very clear how the current supplier is connected to the company that is supposed to provide a component forming the basis of the new Slovensko.sk," explained Hargas. The company allegedly linking the two is Bliss Tec, s. r. o. "What could realistically happen – and I believe it's a real threat – is that the current supplier repackages what they already provide to the state, gives it a prettier wrapper, collects 80 million euros, and we carry on as before," he added. PS is calling for the cancellation of the public procurement process and, with respect to this tender, has also proposed the dismissal of Investment Minister Samuel Migal (independent). An extraordinary special session of Parliament with this agenda is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 23 October, in the morning. Previous opposition attempts to open sessions aimed at dismissing other government ministers have been unsuccessful. The coalition party Voice–SD, under whose banner Migal originally ran for Parliament, has already indicated that his dismissal would breach the coalition agreement. mf