Pensioner gave millions in shopping bag

The HZDS party of the ruling coalition claimed to have received Sk11 million in donations under curious circumstances. Rudolf Trávniček, who is on a disability pension and lives in a tiny one-room flat in Bratislava, allegedly donated the party Sk7 million in cash; the money was ostensibly handed over in a plastic bag.

Another Sk4 million came from Jozef Oceľ, a private businessman (Oceľ’s business headquarters pictured above).

Irregularities were also found in the financing of the ruling Smer party and the opposition SDKÚ and KDH parties. However, the parliamentary Finance Committee refused to discuss an opposition motion to examine the HZDS donations, even after it was found that they contained formal shortcomings. For example, the signature of the party official who received the donations was not notarized.