The government has wasted €265 million throughout 2008 and in the first quarter of 2009, the economic think-thank INESS reported, based on the results of its monitoring of media reports. According to INESS, several cases of cronyism occurred, as the turnover of ministers in the current government suggests, the SITA newswire reported.
“Within our monitoring we have recorded in 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 in the media news documentation of the suspicions of cronyism with a total of €98 million,” SITA quoted INESS.
Despite the unfavourable position of the media in the eyes of the Slovak government, it is the media that basically saves money for Slovak citizens, INESS says.
“Thanks to the social pressure that their news coverage has encouraged, the government and the ministries cancelled tenders or even closed contracts which were unfavourable for Slovak taxpayers,” INESS stated, as quoted by SITA. “In 2008, media thus prevented cronyism or wasting of money that totalled €161 million.” SITA
Compiled by Michaela Stanková from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
