PS Expels Former MP Pekar Over Financing Concerns, Returns Gifts to Him (2)

Bratislava, 27 March (TASR) – An arbitration commission of the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party on Friday expelled former MP Martin Pekar from the party after reviewing submissions filed against him, the party's press department told TASR on Friday. Pekar originally had his membership in PS suspended over unclear information about the origin of his assets, as well as regarding "falsehoods surrounding the circumstances of his departure from a company where he worked", repeated violations of internal party rules, and inappropriate behaviour towards female members and employees of the party. "There mustn't be even the slightest doubt about the integrity of our financing, which is why we've returned all donations and loans to Mr. Pekar down to the last cent. Subsequently, he had to leave," said PS chair Michal Simecka. He declared that high ethical standards apply in PS and that, compared to other parties, PS acts "very resolutely and decisively" to the slightest suspicion. The party said that Pekar was given several weeks, not just 48 hours, to explain the suspicions and submit documents to refute them. "While Mr. Pekar told us he could only document his income for three years, in the media he claims to have ten-year overviews. At the same time, he's lying about apologising to a colleague for inappropriate behaviour and sexual remarks. On the contrary, he's continued to downplay them," said PS parliamentary caucus chair Zuzana Mesterova. She added that the motion to the arbitration commission was timed so that, if the decision had been in his favour, he could have run for party posts. "His argument that this process prevented him from taking part in the upcoming congress simply does not stand. Nor does the claim that he represents some large faction in PS. Twenty members of the presidium unanimously decided to suspend his membership," she said. PS also accentuated that, given Pekar's work in the private sector, in 2023 it could only examine his assets from public sources. "Despite repeated requests, Pekar failed to defend himself. The conclusions of the arbitration commission have confirmed this," added Mesterova. Pekar had called on the arbitration commission to overturn the leadership's decision to suspend his membership in PS. He criticised the commission's procedure, saying it had given him a 48-hour deadline to respond to the submissions. He'd earlier rejected media reports about the unclear origin of financial donations to the party and viewed the situation that led to the suspension of his membership as targeted interference in an internal party process, specifically the outcome of Saturday's (28 March) PS congress. In response to his expulsion, Pekar said that he sent an email to the arbitration commission as early as Friday with documentation proving his innocence in property-related matters. "However, due to the deadline, they didn't take it into account," he stated, adding that he can file an appeal within 15 days. This means that the matter will be decided by a new presidium and a new arbitration commission. "Whether they change their decision will depend on whether the new presidium and arbitration commission are renewed and become fair again, or whether they remain as they are and everyone will have to do what a few individuals in leadership posts want,” he said in a statement sent to TASR. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final paragraph mf/df