Zuzana Čaputová and Maroš Šefčovič in one of the debates organised by private broadcaster TV Markíza. (source: SME)
The 2019 presidential campaign was the most expensive in history. The candidates and their supporters spent altogether more than €3.5 million, the private broadcaster TV Markíza reported, referring to the candidates’ final accounts.
They suggest that EC Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, who spent €764,000, had the most expensive campaign. He was followed by scientist Róbert Mistrík, who had spent nearly €700,000 before he withdrew from the race, and president elect Zuzana Čaputová, who spent €650,000, the ethics watchdog Transparency International Slovensko (TIS) informed.
Even though it seemed before the elections that Šefčovič had spent relatively little money on his campaign, the most money was paid via invoices after the elections. This may give the impression that Čaputová spent more, according to TIS.
Šefčovič slams the results
Šefčovič criticised his main rival during the race for spending too much on the campaign. He does not consider the results presented by TIS fair and correct.
“Several candidates launched the billboard and online campaign months before its official start, so my campaign could not be the most expensive,” he told TV Markíza.
