SaS Files Motion with PG's Office over Furniture Bought for 'Kukurica' Building2

Bratislava, 1 June (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party will file a motion with the Prosecutor-General's Office over the Defence Ministry's purchases of furniture during the renovation of the former Hviezda dormitory in Bratislava in the building known as the Kukurica ['the Corn on the Cob', due to its shape — ed.note]. At a press conference held by SaS representatives on Monday, MP Martina Bajo Holeckova said that in a contract worth some €3 million the ministry failed to include a list of the purchased furniture and didn't disclose it even following a request made under the law on free access to information. "Whenever other state agencies have made purchases from the same company, Drevona [a furniture manufacturer], the contract has always specified the items purchased, including quantity. However, it seems that the law simply doesn't apply to [Defence] Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD)," stated Bajo Holeckova, adding that the failure to publish the full contract, including the details of what the ministry has purchased, is a clear violation of the law. "Therefore, we're filing a motion against Minister Kalinak with the Prosecutor-General's Office today, alongside with another motion for a breach of the Public Procurement Act," she added. While the government is consolidating public finances to the detriment of the public, its representatives are squandering money, she said, calling on Kalinak to stop violating the law and to disclose what the ministry has purchased. During the press conference, SaS MP Juraj Krupa also noted that the Defence Ministry has embarked on a host of projects, such as the Zvolen bypass (Banska Bystrica region) and Presov hospital. According to him, the ministry is failing to manage these projects properly. Responding at an afternoon press conference, Defence Minister Robert Kalinak underlined that the estimated contract value (PHZ) is not important. What matters, he emphasized, is the final amount paid by the state. "We will provide a price tag for every item of equipment in the building so that you can see how much we paid for it," he said. The building under reconstruction has served the Defence Ministry since 1989. Due to its deteriorating technical condition, it was gradually vacated until it was completely closed in 2017. Following renovation, it's now set to become the ministry's headquarters. The opposition has long criticised the renovation of the building, while complaints have also been made by local residents concerning light pollution. The Defence Ministry's Value for Money Unit has repeatedly recommended preparing a plan to fill the premises, citing concerns about insufficient use. The ministry has rejected any wrongdoing. NOTE: This story has been extended to include paragraph seven mf/jrg