OLaNO: Fico Uses EU as Fig Leaf to Cover Corruption

Bratislava, August 16 (TASR) – Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is using the European Union as a fig leaf to cover corruption, Opposition OLaNO-NOVA MP Veronika Remisova said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Remisova spoke in response to Fico’s statement dated from Tuesday (August 15), when he claimed that he can’t embrace calls for an early election as that would spell the death knell for Slovakia’s ambitions to preserve itself within the EU core.

“Robert Fico continuously reiterates the mantra about the core but that’s just a glossy veneer without substance. A serious political debate should be about specific measures currently discussed in the EU and we should be talking about what is good, what isn’t good for Slovakia, what’s in our national interest and not be treated just to some smoke screen about the core,” said Remisova.

Fico asserted that the Opposition would have steered Slovakia out of Europe, but Remisova demurs.

The MP pointed out that despite billions of euros that Slovakia has received in European funds, the situation for people in Slovakia has only edged towards any improvement. “This is our greatest objection towards the Government. We received €600 million for science and research, yet only a fraction of that sum trickles down to genuine researchers,” she claimed, adding that when the prime minister is expected to take action with respect to the European funds scandal, he chooses to hide behind the EU.

OLaNO-NOVA leader Igor Matovic pointed out that the European funds for research represent only four percent of all European funds Slovakia is slated to receive within next three years. The current Government is to distribute a total of €15 billion for projects.