KDH to return illegal gifts immediately

The opposition Christian Democratic Party (KDH) has looked into allegations about accepting illegal financial gifts in 2006 and is now prepared to return the them, KDH spokesman Martin Krajčovič announced on August 5. It attributed the mistake to its regional offices.

Fair-play Alliance said on August 4 that the KDH had illegally accepted gifts worth a total of Sk55,000 (€1,826). According to Zuzana Wienk from the Alliance, KDH received a Sk50,000 (€1,660) gift from a company called Brantner Nova, which is partially owned by the city of Spišská Nová Ves (Košice region) – and that is illegal. In 2007, the KDH received a gift worth Sk5,000 (€166) from a civic association, which the law also forbids.

"We examined the information today. It turned out to be true and we are prepared to return this money immediately," Krajčovič told journalists.

The KDH has told its offices not to accept such gifts in the future. The party maintains that it did not receive any other illegal gifts, though it hasn't examined other cases except for what’s been publicised.