WHILE the opposition is demanding that Minister of Agriculture Zsolt Simon lose his post because he applied for subsidies for his own company, similar questions surround Deputy Agriculture Minister Marián Radošovský. The Christian Democratic Movement is about to request an explanation from its nominee.
The Hospodárske noviny daily wrote that a Nitra-based firm, FaRM, received subsidies from the Agriculture Ministry. According to the Busines Register, one of the co-owners of the firm is Radošovský. The ministry's website gives evidence that the firm received Sk2.5 million (€64,300) in 2003, according to the daily.
The case of Radošovský is comaparable to the case of Simon. His firm, Agrotrade Padarovce, also received subsidies from the ministry in 2003.
Pavel Nechala of Transparency International compared the case to that of former Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family Ľudovít Kaník, whose his firm requested funds from the EU to reconstruct a family-owned hotel. He said that Kaník had resigned, so should Simon.
