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Rafaj: HZDS Has Low Voter Support and Therefore Clutches at Straws
Friday 26 March 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, March 26 (TASR) - If LS-HZDS chairman Vladimir Meciar has any information on any 'scoopers' of kickbacks from state subsidies running criss-cross the country, he should act, Rafael Rafaj from the Slovak National Party (SNS), which is HZDS's coalition partner, told TASR on Friday.
Earlier in the day, Meciar insinuated that it is SNS that is involved in corruption. "It isn't my party. We're three in the Government. There are no suggestion that Smer is involved in this. One party remains," said Meciar. Later on, he suggested that kickbacks for people from the Construction and Regional Development Ministry (which is still under SNS's remit) and the Environment Ministry (which was directed by SNS until August) amount to 15-30 percent.
Rafaj explained that it is the run-up to the general election and that all political parties are starting to take off the gloves. HZDS, he says, has opted to "try and scandalise its political rivals" in order to win votes.
"It hasn't surprised me ... as LS-HZDS sees their support in opinion polls being quite low," said Rafaj. "When drowning, one clutches any straw."
He added that HZDS should be better off putting their own house in order - especially when it comes to weak law enforcement. Entrepreneurs are complaining this, and it comes under the remit of the HZDS-led Justice Ministry, noted Rafaj.
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