Opposition Smer MP Renáta Zmajkovičová, the chair of parliament's conflicts of interest committee, on Thursday, November 11, filed a complaint regarding Finance Minister Ivan Mikloš (Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ)) for allegedly promoting the business activities of Bratislava-based travel agency Bubo, is what she said was a violation of a constitutional law.
Zmajkovičová wants the committee to launch a disciplinary action against Mikloš as a public official. Wednesday's edition of the Sme daily contained an advertisement promoting the travel agency in which the opinions of some of its clients are included. Two photographs of Mikloš appear and the advertising material also features a quote by Mikloš recommending the agency. Mikloš told the Sme daily that his contribution was "a recycled, four-year old statement I made without claiming any remuneration", adding that the statement dates back to when he wasn't a minister.
According to the law, public officials are not allowed to use their identity, name, face, pictures, voice and signature in any kind of promotional activity. At the time of the original advertisement Mikloš was an MP, and the parliamentary committee has previously looked into other cases of MPs linked to advertising, the TASR newswire wrote.
Sources: Sme, TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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