Mar 16 • 16:18 UTC 🇸🇰 Slovakia Postoj

Millions for NGOs close to Hlas / Coalition fights against 'political NGOs', labor ministry distributes EU funds for organizations affiliated with Hlas

The Slovak Ministry of Labor under Erik Tomáš has distributed nearly 10 million euros in EU funds, with a significant portion going to NGOs associated with the political party Hlas.

The Slovak Ministry of Labor, led by Erik Tomáš from the Hlas party, has allocated nearly 10 million euros in EU funds for social innovation projects. Among the ten successful applicants, two are non-governmental organizations linked to Hlas candidates from the recent parliamentary elections, collectively securing almost 3 million euros. This has raised concerns among critics who claim that such funding is politically motivated.

One specific case highlighted involves a non-profit organization founded just a month before the grant application deadline by the district head of Hlas, Daniel Lichner, in Turčianske Teplice. This organization received nearly 1 million euros for a project aimed at integrating migrants into society. However, after the corruption watchdog, Nadácia Zastavme korupciu, began probing the issue, Lichner's organization swiftly canceled the project and returned the funds, sparking further scrutiny about the legitimacy of the funding process.

Additionally, criticisms have surfaced regarding Lichner's project partners, particularly Zuzana Štrbíková, whose company has a troubled history, including the failure of a prior EU-funded project in 2018. This situation raises questions about the accountability and transparency of the distribution of EU funds, especially concerning the apparent intertwining of politics and non-profit initiatives linked to significant parliamentary figures in Slovakia.

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