MOST of the major political parties in Slovakia are deep in debt. Even though they managed to pay off a total of at least Sk15 million (€390,000) in 2004, the debt still represents around Sk130 million (€3.38 million), the Hospodárske Noviny wrote.
The largest debt is owed by the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), which has liabilities of Sk42.2 million (€1.1 million). Coalition partner party the Slovak Democratic Christian Union (SDKU) is closely behind the HZDS with Sk40.3 million (€1.05 million), the New Citizen's Alliance (ANO) come third with a debt of Sk38.5 million (€1 million), followed by opposition SMER with Sk7.3 million (€190,000).
The Fair Play Alliance points out that non-standard loans could evoke pressure on repayments even in the form of state contracts. Compiled by Magdalena MacLeod from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
