Ministry: No Criminal Charges at Time of PPA Payment to Fafokan Guesthouse

Bratislava, 30 January (TASR) – At the time the Agricultural Payment Agency (PPA) application was paid out, no person linked to Fafokan Guesthouse had been charged or convicted, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's press department told TASR on Friday. The ministry said this in response to Thursday's (29 January) statements by MP Alojz Hlina from the opposition's Freedom and Solidarity party, who claims that EU's agricultural funds have been misused to finance luxurious private houses of the select individuals. According to the ministry, PPA verified, in line with statutory procedures, that the beneficiary met all obligations required under the call. "Before the final payment was made, an on-the-spot inspection was carried out on 27 June 2025, concluding that the subject of the project has been constructed, approved for use and is being used. Five on-the-spot inspections have been carried out on the project since 2016, all without finding any problems," the Agriculture Ministry emphasised. The ministry added that the PPA is fully cooperative with all supervisory institutions. At the same time, the agency recalls that it strictly follows the laws of the Slovak Republic and the European Union. The agency, the ministry underlined, does not act according to the wishes of politicians. At a briefing on 29 January, Hlina said that the Fafokan Guesthouse case, the construction of which was financed by the PPA, would also have repercussions in Parliament. The opposition Freedom and Solidarity party will attempt to convene a special emergency session of the House Committee for Agriculture and Environment over the guesthouse. He announced that the Agriculture Minister as well as the head of the PPA will be invited to the committee session. mf