'Slovakia' Again Criticises Kalinak for Purchasing Aircraft in 2024

Bratislava, 3 March (TASR) - At a press conference on Tuesday, the opposition 'Slovakia' party again criticised Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) for purchasing Bombardier Global 5000 transport aircraft in 2024. The situation in the Middle East has confirmed that the purchase was unnecessary, stated party representatives, pointing out that these aircraft aren't being used for the current evacuation flights. "Robert Kalinak quietly purchased aircraft worth €50 million for the Slovak armed forces air force without any competition. We questioned this at the time, stating that these aircraft were completely unnecessary and unusable for military purposes and would serve more as air taxis for bigwigs than for the needs of the Slovak armed forces. And lo and behold, practice has repeatedly proven us right," said MP Gabor Grendel ('Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus), noting that the aircraft aren't being used for evacuation flights from the Middle East. Grendel also pointed out that Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) allegedly used such a plane to travel to a party event in Kosice. "Instead of serving the purposes of the Defence Ministry, Kalinak has turned the Defence Ministry's fleet into an air taxi service for his colleagues from the Smer party," he said. Julius Jakab ('Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus) called on the prime minister to pay for the flight. "Kalinak lied to the entire nation that these planes should be used to evacuate citizens in emergencies, but Fico is flying on them. So, kindly let him pay for this," he added. am/df