Re: "Scandal engulfs SDKÚ party", By Tom Nicholson, Vol. 8 No. 24, June 24-30, 2002
Misery truly loves company. As I read about the scandal allegations directed toward the SDKÚ, I can't help comparing them with similar allegations currently aimed at the governing Liberal party here in Canada. Most recently, the auditor-general and the opposition have revealed that the government has been awarding lucrative contracts to girlfriends and to companies which give handsome donations to the party, often without tenders, sometimes without any tangible results. At least one ministerial head has already rolled, and the police have been called in to investigate several of these incidents.
Former Slovak PM Vladimír Mečiar can take comfort in the fact that one of our own former provincial premiers is presently in court facing allegations that he accepted renovations to his personal home and paid for them with political influence. Parliament is now on summer vacation, and the government is hoping that some other news will push its problems out of the spotlight, but there continues to be a public call for a transparent code of ethics. It's just a little sad that so many good and honourable members of parliament must be tarred with the same brush as their allegedly less scrupulous colleagues. Thank goodness for strong and independent auditors, a vigilant and courageous court system, and a loyal opposition.
Ron Watson
