Simecka: Matovic Once Again Used Opportunity to Help Fico

Bratislava, 11 February (TASR) - Head of the opposition 'Slovakia' party Igor Matovic has once again helped Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party leader Michal Simecka declared on Wednesday. Simecka responded in this way to Matovic's remarks that PS had failed in the case of the so-called government audit. "Once again, as he's done several times before, when there was an opportunity to help Robert Fico, whether via a vote in Parliament or by amplifying a particular issue, Igor Matovic has taken it. Just as he's done now. He's the best ally that Robert Fico could wish for. That is exactly what his statements and his press conference were about," said Simecka at a news conference on Wednesday. He reiterated that his mother, with respect to alleged financial irregularities at civil association Projekt Forum, is prepared to accept the consequences. "In any case, even though it concerns my mother, I say let justice be done. If I'm not mistaken, the police are also investigating it, and administrative proceedings are underway. If she committed a criminal offence and the police continue to investigate, she herself is ready to face the consequences," claimed Simecka. He described the discussion of the issue in Parliament and the fact that the prime minister convened a press conference on it as deliberate harassment by the government and Parliament. Asked whether he's ruling out a future governing coalition with Matovic, Simecka said that he can envisage a stable government with SaS, KDH and the extra-parliamentary Democrats as partners. According to Matovic, PS has mishandled the government audit case by defending what he calls an obvious fraud. He rejects claims that it was merely an administrative error. If the 'Slovakia' party were to become part of a governing coalition with PS, it would seek to assume the role of a "watchdog that wouldn't allow anyone to steal or commit fraud", and it will take a stricter approach towards PS from now on, he said. mf/df