JUSTICE Minister Daniel Lipšic was awarded the title of "The best friend of information" in a competition organised by the Open Society Foundation. A board
comprised mainly of activists evaluated the attitude of officials and state authorities who are responsible for providing the public with information.
Lipšic won the title mainly because of his analyses in which he warned that the cabinet was breaking the law by withholding information about aspects of contracts the government had signed with foreign investors.
According to the daily SME, the "least information-friendly" official is Dušan Močko, the mayor of Brunovce, a village near Piešťany. Močko received the infamous title because of his "chronic disregard of the law" [on freedom of information] the paper said.
As well as ignoring the public, Močko even refused to provide information for some of Brunovce's municipal MPs.
The second biggest "friend of information" is the city of Martin, according to the jury.
The Education Ministry ranked second in the least information-friendly category for its blockage of information on prepared school legislation.
The competition was held on the occasion of International Information Day, which is celebrated on September 28.
Compiled by Martina Jurinová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
