INDEPENDENT candidate Andrej Kiska filed a criminal complaint with the police on March 10 over a leaflet that he believes constitutes libel against him.
"Slovakia has been inundated with leaflets over the past few days that are part of a long-term counter-campaign against my candidacy for president," said Kiska in a statement, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
The circulars were no doubt produced in a professional manner, Kiska said, and they've been distributed in huge numbers to post boxes across Slovakia.
"This is a well-thought-out and costly venture worth tens of thousands of euros. This no longer involves just social networks, and it's by no means a spontaneous civil activity," said Kiska, as quoted by TASR, who has recently been facing a counter-campaign against his presidential bid on Facebook as well.
"Since I possess information, albeit officially unconfirmed for now, concerning one particular distribution company that has been distributing these leaflets, I expect the law enforcement authorities to easily track down whoever placed the order for them," said Kiska, who went on to urge his supporters not to be put off by the fliers.
The first round of the elections is taking place this coming Saturday. The latest poll released on March 10 measured Kiska's public support at close to 24 percent, while Prime Minister and election frontrunner Robert Fico coming in first with 35 percent. The two candidates with the most votes in the first round will face each other in the run-off vote on March 29 if no candidate garners at least 50-percent support in the first round.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.
