THE NON-parliamentary Movement for Democracy (HZD) party is using President Ivan Gašparovič in its campaign for the June 17 election.
The party has put up billboards with the slogan: "You trust the president, so trust us as well". According to the SME daily, the HZD is taking advantage of the fact that Gašparovič, who founded the HZD in 2002, recently accepted the honorary presidency of the party.
HZD Chairman Jozef Grapa did not consult the billboard slogan beforehand with Gašparovič. "I think the president will have no problems with the slogan," Grapa said.
Presidential spokesman Marek Trubač said he was not aware of the texts on the HZD billboards, and refused to comment on them.
Both ruling coalition and opposition politicians have criticised the HZD for abusing the president's name for its political campaign.
