SNS challenges Slovak Environment Minister over spending

Tensions are rising within the Slovak governing coalition as the Slovak National Party (SNS) criticizes Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba. While SNS agrees with Taraba’s call for government austerity, the party has directed its criticism toward Taraba’s personal connections, specifically targeting lawyer Patrik Podhorský.

SNS claims that the law firm Podhorský & Partners has received over 2 million EUR in contracts from the Ministry of Environment and its subordinate state enterprises, Vodohospodárska výstavba and Slovenský vodohospodársky podnik, since March 2024. The party is calling for systemic measures to limit external legal services to ensure transparency and cost-effectiveness.

Additionally, SNS has demanded that Minister Taraba investigate the legality of a state-private consortium involved in Danube sediment removal projects, which include a contract worth over 27 million EUR and a planned project valued at 137 million EUR.

Separately, the Police Trade Union (OZP) is calling on all major political parties to present concrete plans regarding the personnel, social, and economic stabilization of the Police Force ahead of upcoming elections, focusing on salaries, pensions, and career growth.