The first edition of the “Interior Ministry Day – Even for the Little Ones” attracted nearly 6,000 visitors in June 2023. (source: Facebook - The Interior Ministry)
Slovakia’s interior minister, Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas), is under mounting pressure following revelations that his ministry is set to spend around €1.5 million on promotional materials – including thousands of branded giveaways – during a period of government-imposed fiscal consolidation.
The latest criticism comes from the opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), which has accused the minister of misusing public funds to bolster his personal image. At a press conference on Thursday, SaS leader Branislav Gröhling and MP Martina Bajo Holečková drew attention to two procurement contracts – one worth €150,000 and another exceeding €1.5 million – tied to the ministry’s public outreach activities.
One of the contracts, according to Holečková, is linked to the upcoming “Day of the Interior Ministry”, a large-scale event already under scrutiny for its estimated cost of more than €600,000. The order includes 15,000 stress balls, 15,000 rain ponchos, and 15,000 packets of sweets.
“For comparison, the government spent just over €40,000 on promotional items for the Cyril and Methodius celebrations – and even that was considered excessive,” said Holečková. “Now we’re seeing a promotional bonanza under the guise of public engagement. It’s unjustifiable.”
The second, and significantly larger, contract is for unspecified promotional materials and gifts. Holečková raised concerns about the lack of detail in the tender. “There is no transparency around what the ministry intends to purchase, or in what quantities. How can a supplier fulfil the contract without knowing the requirements? The vagueness invites speculation and raises the risk of misuse.”
The Interior Ministry recently cancelled a €1.9 million procurement after discovering a key error in the item specifications – an air freshener was listed with non-existent dimensions, making the tender unfulfillable.
Holečková alleged that the campaign ultimately serves to enhance Šutaj Eštok’s personal standing. “If the minister wants to improve his public image, he should do so using his own resources – not taxpayers’ money.”
Gröhling echoed the criticism, calling the expenditure tone-deaf amid Slovakia’s financial tightening. “The government is urging consolidation, introducing new taxes and raising fees – yet ministries are spending lavishly on branded trinkets,” he said. “In any normal country, consolidation would mean real savings. This is a mockery.”
“A service to citizens”
These revelations follow earlier controversy over the ministry’s decision to outsource the organisation of its open day at Bratislava’s Incheba Expo Centre. The facility is owned by the family of Alexander Rezeš, a prominent figure in Slovakia’s post-communist business elite. Former interior minister Roman Mikulec (Slovensko) has condemned the €600,000 event as wasteful, arguing that the ministry has the internal staff and expertise to organise it without external contractors.
However, the ministry has pushed back, noting that Mikulec himself organised similar events at the same venue during his tenure – including Firefighters’ Day in 2022 and Interior Ministry Day in 2023 – without publicly justifying their costs or benefits. The latter took place at the Police Academy in Bratislava. According to Mikulec, this event cost €27,500.
Ministry officials have suggested the current criticism reflects double standards, asking whether different rules apply when the event is a large, open programme for tens of thousands of citizens rather than a closed photo opportunity.
Šutaj Eštok’s team has continued to defend the initiative, insisting the event is a crucial public service intended to build trust and showcase the work of police, firefighters, emergency responders and civil protection services. “We want the public to see who protects them, how we operate, and how we contribute to the nation’s safety. This is not an expense – it is a service to citizens,” ministry spokesperson Matej Neumann said.
