Richard Raši has assumed the third-highest constitutional post in Slovakia as Speaker of the National Council, but his rise signals not democratic consolidation, rather the resilience of entrenched power networks. Elected on 26 March 2025 with coalition backing, Raši brings to parliament a legacy shaped by systemic corruption in the healthcare sector, clientelist rule in Košice, and enduring influence over state tenders—none of which have ever resulted in personal accountability. His calculated public image as a polished moderniser stands in stark contrast to a record of opaque procurement, legal circumvention, and proximity to actors implicated in EU fund abuse and organised crime. Raši’s appointment is not a turning point for transparency—it is its mirror opposite: the institutionalisation of impunity.
On 26 March 2025, Richard Raši was elected Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic—an office that constitutionally ranks just below the President and Prime Minister in political significance. His ascension to the chair of the legislature, a role that exercises pivotal influence over law-making and government oversight, signals not only a personal political revival but also raises urgent concerns regarding accountability, institutional integrity, and the health of Slovak democracy.
An Entrenched Actor in a Compromised System
Raši’s path to prominence has been closely entwined with Slovakia’s most enduring healthcare scandals and the patronage networks that have long blurred the lines between political leadership and private gain. Once a protégé of Pavol Paška—himself considered the embodiment of systemic corruption in Slovak healthcare—Raši not only survived his mentor’s political demise but inherited his influence. As health minister (2008–2010), Raši introduced procurement rules that centralised tenders and enabled a small circle of favoured firms, including those linked to oligarch Juraj Široký, to dominate lucrative hospital contracts.
These practices continued under his watch despite multiple red flags, including glaring price discrepancies between medical equipment purchased in Slovakia and identical devices acquired in neighbouring states. Yet, even after documented overpricing, such as the sixfold mark-up on ultrasound machines, Raši never faced legal consequences—a pattern highlighting institutional tolerance for high-level corruption.
Silencing Scrutiny and Eroding Transparency
Raši’s response to investigative questions has often mirrored the broader pattern of evading scrutiny and undermining journalistic oversight. When confronted by reporters about suspicious tenders, he reportedly redirected their inquiries to his legal counsel—a tactic that discourages legitimate scrutiny and fosters a climate of fear among investigative media. During his tenure as a powerful figure in health policy, including his later role as chair of the parliamentary health committee, journalists noted limited access and unwillingness to engage on controversial issues.
While Raši cultivated a public image of modernity and approachability—fuelled by curated social media posts and a polished communications style—his political record reveals sustained efforts to manage, rather than respond to, media narratives. This duality poses a critical threat to media freedom, particularly in a country where investigative reporting has already been undermined by the unresolved murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in 2018—an act linked to figures Raši has been politically adjacent to.
Undermining Civil Accountability through Clientelism
Raši’s local governance record as mayor of Košice further illustrates how clientelist practices can erode public trust and marginalise civic oversight. His administration’s controversial decision to outsource city parking enforcement to a private firm with political ties triggered widespread protests. The deal was later invalidated by the Supreme Court as unlawful, but not before contributing to Smer’s electoral collapse in Košice—a city once central to the party’s power base.
Furthermore, Raši’s documented assistance to the family of a fellow party appointee—granting nearly €2.5 million in EU funds to a firm co-owned by a politically connected businessman later charged in multiple corruption cases—reveals how state resources have been redirected to serve political allies. This patronage not only distorted the purpose of EU development funds but also undermined the procedural fairness expected in democratic governance.
An Unbroken Grip on the Healthcare Sector
Despite multiple changes in government and his own shift from Smer to Hlas, Raši has maintained disproportionate influence over national healthcare policy. During the fourth Fico government, he served as Minister of Investments, a role through which he retained sway over key spending channels. Health policy, nominally under other ministers, reportedly continued to reflect the preferences of Raši and his close allies. This persistent informal influence—frequently described by Slovak analysts as that of a “grey eminence”—reinforces the image of an actor operating with impunity behind institutional facades.
Source: Ján Krempaský, Peter Jabrik | SME.SK
