Smer-SD files a criminal complaint in connection with the army’s purchase of 8×8 vehicles – Topky.sk

“The purchase is non-transparent, unprepared and obviously disadvantageous for the Slovak Republic,” said Fico, adding that vehicles are procured from abroad that we can also produce in Slovakia. He talks about economic treason and the lies of the Minister of Defense Jaroslav Naď (OĽANO). He recalled that when the tender was being prepared under the former government, they insisted on the condition of a high share of Slovakia in production. It was Naď, according to Fico, who criticized the purchase at the time and now he is going to complete it, moreover for a higher amount. The leader of Smer-SD claims that 76 vehicles are currently being bought for roughly 470 million euros. According to him, during the time of the former government and the SNS in the management of the department, a competition was prepared in such a way that every single vehicle was to be 500,000 euros cheaper. Archive video Fico also mentioned the foreign scandals of the Finnish company Patria, from which the vehicles should be procured. According to Fico, in order to cover up the tender, the Minister of Defense had a study done, in which not everything fits. He questions its results, pointing out, for example, the amount needed annually for vehicle maintenance. In the context of the war in Ukraine, Fico noted that it could show the needs of the army in defense of the state. According to him, it is therefore necessary to procure radars, drones or an air defense system for Slovakia. Former Minister of the Interior Robert Kaliňák (Smer-SD) also pointed out the need for ammunition. Smer-SD also criticized the donation of the S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. Fico says that the Department of Defense is getting rid of technology senselessly. He indicated that he is also creating space for large purchases. “After two and a half years, the minister is on a well-deserved vacation for a few days, so he will not respond to the press conference paid for by the oligarchs who did not succeed in the competition,” responded the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Defense, Martina Kovaľ Kakaščíková. She noted that they provided complete information on the topic at several press conferences and media outlets.