IGOR Matovič’s attempt to discredit Sieť chairman Radoslav Procházka by raising doubts about the funding of his presidential campaign is nothing but a well-executed and well-sponsored attempt at political assassination, Procházka said on June 24, as reported by the TASR newswire.
"I've found myself in this situation for the first time ever, so I wanted to find out firstly who is behind all this," said Procházka, as quoted by TASR. He added that the political assassination was ordered by political and business circles in connection with the incumbent government, with the suspected reason being Sieť’s activities with respect to the upcoming Bratislava mayoral race.
On June 2, leader of opposition party Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) Igor Matovič claimed that Procházka attempted to purchase campaign ads from Matovič’s family-owned company, Regionpress, under the counter. Matovič alleged in front of journalists that Procházka suggested he should pay 50-90 percent of the total sum for the desired service in cash without a receipt, the TASR newswire reported. The actual price for the services Procházka was paying for amounted to €17,200 with VAT. The ads were to be published in an advertising newspaper delivered to households around Slovakia free of charge. Matovič then called on Procházka to take a lie detector test to prove the contrary.
Meanwhile, Matovič himself took a lie detector test, which he said was administered by an independent company selected by the Nový Čas daily. Nový Čas prepared the questions, which Matovič knew in advance.
Procházka considers Matovič's activities to be a charade.
"If you want to successfully defend yourself, the questions must be formulated in such a way that you have to answer 'no',” he said, pointing out that Matovič responded yes to two of the three questions he was asked.
"So if this is supposed to be a marketplace circus show, let's go all the way,” Procházka said, as quoted by TASR. “I received an offer from one of the television stations to do this live on prime time. And I accepted it."
Also, Procházka submitted to media a report from an independent auditor, who operates under state supervision, and according to whom he spent almost €260,000 on his campaign.
In his reaction on June 25, Matovič claimed he has a recording with the voice of Procházka from their discussion about paying under the counter for advertising.
“I will publish this evidence when I see public demand for it,” Matovič told a press conference in parliament, as quoted by TASR.
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.
