Slovak Minister Taraba Accused of Steering State Funds to Villages for Pumped‑Storage Plant

The Slovak Ministry of Environment, led by Minister Tomáš Taraba, allocated 166,000 EUR each to the villages of Látky and Málinec, which support the construction of a new pumped‑storage hydroelectric plant. The funds are officially earmarked for water‑infrastructure projects, but the contracts lack specific details, prompting opposition politicians to allege the payments are intended as pre‑election bribes for municipal leaders. Critics argue the vague wording allows the villages to use the money for any purpose, while the ministries involved claim the donation will improve water‑management and environmental policy.

Local mayors declined comment, citing the media’s bias, and an opposition Democrat, Michal Kiča, warned that the timing ahead of autumn municipal elections suggests a political motive behind the disbursement.