Conditions for the operation of political parties in Slovakia will become stricter. The Interior Ministry plans to amend the law on political parties, which has been valid since 1991, and limit party membership fees to Sk80,000 (€ 1944).
Currently, there is no official limit for the fees that members can pay to political parties. One-time media tycoon Pavol Rusko took advantage of the law and paid a fee of Sk14.75 million (€358,540) to his rising party, the New Citizens' Alliance (ANO).
Last year, ANO collected Sk37 million (€899,390) on membership fees. Deputy chairman of ANO Lubomír Lintner assumes that his party will oppose the law. Other parties see no problem with the planned limit for membership fees.
Currently, Slovakia has 117 registered political parties, most of which have not been meeting their legal obligations. The current law allows penalties of only up to Sk100,000 (€2,430) for parties violating the law. The new revision would enable the dissolution of such parties.
The revision also increases the number of signatures required for establishing a political party from 1000 to 10,000.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
