MP Petrik Requests Parliamentary Inquiry into Socialna Poistovna

Bratislava, 5 February (TASR) - Vice-chair of the parliamentary committee for social affairs Simona Petrik (Progressive Slovakia/PS) has requested a parliamentary inquiry into social-insurance provider Socialna poistovna (SP) due to suspicions of overpriced and problematic purchases and leases concerning its branches, TASR has learnt from her press release on Thursday. The social-insurer has denied the allegations of overpriced purchases. Doubts arose at around the same time at branches in Zilina and Nitra. The MP claims that this isn't an isolated failure, but may be a systemic problem, which is why she considers a parliamentary inquiry to be necessary, adding that the Socialna poistovna head is scheduled to attend a committee meeting next week. She welcomes this, but believes that this alone isn't enough. Petrik also pointed to the institution's financial management, saying that, in her opinion, the social-insurer has been producing losses worth billions for a long time. "Public money must be under control, and we'll rigorously enforce this control," she added. SP has rejected MP Petrik's allegations of allegedly overpriced purchases at the social insurer's branches. "Socialna poistovna general director Michal Tariska proactively contacted on Monday [2 February] chairman of the House committee for social affairs Jan Richter as well as vice-chair Simona Petrik and offered all committee members a working meeting at the social-insurer to discuss the published investments," said SP spokesman Martin Kontur. am/df