Political ethics watchdog the Fair Play Alliance has found out that sponsors of political parties often gain exclusive state orders.
Between 2001 and 2003, donors of Slovak political parties obtained government contracts exceeding Sk5 billion (€124.4 million). They were associated with almost all of the political parties, the daily SME wrote.
The alliance, which drew the information from the website of the Office of Public Procurement, claims that in most cases the orders were granted in a non-transparent manner.
Among the direct sponsors, those associated with the opposition Smer were the most successful and won tenders amounting to Sk1 billion (€24.9 million) and Sk300 million (€7.5 million).
Donors of the ruling coalition member the Christian-Democratic Movement and the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union follow Smer on the list.
On the other hand, donors of the ruling coalition's Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) stayed away from public sector contracts, news wire SITA wrote.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
