The recent conviction of ex-president Andrej Kiska for tax fraud, linked to his 2014 presidential campaign, has sparked calls for improved election campaign oversight in Slovakia. Although Kiska’s appeal options are exhausted, members of the ruling coalition seek further condemnation of his tenure.
Political Repercussions and Call for Parliamentary Condemnation
Following Kiska’s October conviction for tax-related infractions during his campaign, coalition members, including Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Tibor Gašpar from Smer, have argued that Kiska’s electoral victory was achieved dishonestly. According to Transparency International Slovakia, Gašpar claimed that Kiska “won unfairly” by using his company, KTAG, to exceed the legal campaign spending limits in 2014, resulting in a “dishonest victory.” In response, the coalition is pressing for a parliamentary resolution condemning Kiska’s presidency. However, Transparency suggests this effort may be “more symbolic than substantial,” lacking meaningful improvements in electoral oversight.
Although Kiska’s campaign spending in 2014 was reviewed by the Ministry of Finance under then-Minister Peter Kažimír (Smer), Transparency noted that the examination was “limited to a single-page summary.” This basic assessment, which included only “six basic figures” on Kiska’s campaign, provided no account statements or invoices, resulting in an official ruling that the campaign was compliant. Transparency now highlights this case as indicative of how campaign oversight often falls short of genuine scrutiny.
Legislative Changes Without Effective Control Mechanisms
Despite having an opportunity to strengthen campaign oversight after Kiska’s victory, Smer-led legislative reforms in 2014 made minimal improvements. Transparency International Slovakia pointed out that while oversight responsibility shifted to the State Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Interior, “transparency issues remain largely unaddressed.” The legal cap for campaign spending was set at an “unrealistically low” €500,000, posing challenges in subsequent elections, particularly in 2019 and 2024. Transparency’s analysis indicates that Smer’s campaigns are among the “least transparent,” with a significant portion of expenses concealed in allied agencies, making public scrutiny nearly impossible.
Additionally, Transparency has reported similar concerns about other political actors, including the Hlas party and President Peter Pellegrini, noting their “lack of transparency” and hinting at possible spending cap violations. Despite these concerns, current legislation lacks provisions for retrospective penalties, allowing these issues to persist unchecked even in cases where Transparency has found “credible suspicions of financial impropriety.”
Need for Transparent and Enforceable Election Oversight
Transparency International Slovakia asserts that the focus on Kiska diverts attention from Slovakia’s broader need for effective election regulations. They argue that a genuine commitment to electoral integrity would involve “stringent financial disclosure requirements” and strengthened auditing authority to combat campaign finance abuses. Transparency adds that the coalition’s fixation on Kiska’s actions risks “overlooking the structural flaws” in Slovak electoral oversight, calling for a renewed effort to close these regulatory gaps.
Source: Transparency International Slovakia | Facebook
Published on 6.11.2024
