Slovakia’s Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok is under fire after an undisclosed trip to the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix came to light when photographs of him at the event surfaced online, forcing him to admit his attendance. Adding to the controversy, he was seen in the company of influential financiers with active business ties to the Slovak state, raising serious questions about conflicts of interest and the integrity of his role as a public official. Compounding matters, the minister has refused to disclose how he funded the high-cost trip, claiming it was self-financed without providing evidence. The lack of transparency, combined with his association with powerful business figures, has fuelled suspicions of state capture and further eroded public trust in governance, contradicting the principles of his self-proclaimed social democratic platform.
Minister of the Interior Matúš Šutaj Eštok has come under fire after attending the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, a trip initially undisclosed to the public. The controversy surfaced after social media users identified the minister at the event. Šutaj Eštok claimed the visit was self-funded and professional, yet he has not disclosed the financial details or identified his companions, raising questions about transparency.
The controversy deepened with revelations that Juraj Šaštinský, a former executive linked to financial group Penta and now working for PPF, attended the event. While PPF spokesperson Leoš Rousek confirmed Šaštinský’s presence, he denied any involvement in funding the minister’s trip. Given PPF’s extensive business interests in Slovakia—including SkyToll and Markíza—the overlap with Šutaj Eštok’s attendance has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Former Smer Justice Minister Tomáš Borec also attended, citing his honorary role as a judge for the International Automobile Federation (FIA). Borec noted that Šutaj Eštok’s invitation came through the Slovak motorsport association, though details of their discussions remain unclear.
Critics, including former MP Juraj Šeliga and MP Martina Bajo Holečková, have challenged the minister’s claims that he financed the trip independently, estimating the cost at up to €32,000. They demanded Šutaj Eštok release receipts and explain the purpose of his interactions with business figures in Abu Dhabi. To date, the minister has failed to provide further clarification, fuelling public scepticism.
This incident underscores broader concerns about governance and accountability in Slovakia. It reflects a pattern of questionable practices, including Šutaj Eštok’s prior use of government aircraft for sporting events, often framed as diplomatic missions. As chairman of a self-proclaimed social democratic party, such actions appear incongruent with the values of transparency and equity that social democracy traditionally upholds. These incidents risk undermining public trust and reinforcing perceptions of state capture, where private interests and government officials collude for mutual benefit at the expense of democratic integrity.
Source: Tomáš Kyseľ and Martin Turček | Aktuality.sk
