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Figel: KDH Due to File Criminal Complaint on Financing Smer-SD
Wednesday 19 May 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, May 19 (TASR) - The Christian Democrats (KDH) will on Thursday file a criminal complaint to the Prosecutor General's Office due to suspicion of committing various crimes in connection to the information published by the SME daily about financing the Smer-SD party, said KDH chairman Jan Figel on Thursday.
Figel at the same time called on Smer-SD chairman and Prime Minister Robert Fico to explain – in a trustworthy way – how the party was financed in the wake of the revelations of former Smer-SD MP Bohumil Hanzel. "Otherwise, he (Fico) should consider his political responsibility," said Figel.
The KDH chairman recalled that he addressed a similar appeal to SDKU-DS chairman Mikulas Dzurinda at the time when Dzurinda's party was in the firing line of Fico's criticism due to dubious financing.
"If this, what has appeared in the media, did take place in Smer-SD, it is unprecedented," said Figel, recalling Fico's own words addressed to Dzurinda earlier this year after SDKU-DS's financial background surfaced.
Figel called for the drawing of "direct responsibility", but didn't specify whether the new information about Smer influences KDH's possible post-election co-operation with Smer - as it has never been openly ruled out. "I'm confirming our fundamental interest - to change the current Government," Figel stressed. The whole coalition as it is (Smer-SD, LS-HZDS and Slovak National Party/SNS)," Figel stressed.
When it comes to the specific crimes that may have been committed by Smer-SD, Figel mentioned abuse of power, tax evasion, corruption and the hushing up of corruption. "But we'll try to specify this in the complaint," he added.
In an interview published by SME daily on Wednesday, businessman Hanzel claims that he has seen a notarised agreement between Smer-SD and five sponsors of the party, which concerned specific places on Smer's election slate in 2002 (Smer's first campaign). Hanzel said that he arranged meetings in the period of 2000-2002 between Fico and Smer's sponsors, who sank tens of millions of crowns into the party. In addition, Hanzel claimed that he can provide proof that in late 1999 he and Fico agreed to seek out influential people willing to bankroll the party.
Hanzel also reaffirmed his recent statements that Smer's election campaign in 2002 cost Sk284 million (€9.4 million), far more than the officially announced figure.
Fico on the same day labelled Hanzel's statements as 'utter hogwash'. "He's basing his accusations on some sort of notes (of his). They're utter hogwash, I feel sorry for him," said Fico, adding that Hanzel is striving to create the false impression that he was one of the key people in Smer's creation. Fico also brought up the question as to why Hanzel - who Fico claims is on close terms with the opposition SDKU-DS party and parliamentary vice-chair Milan Hort in particular - decided to speak out 26 days prior to the general election.
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