Slovak Election Campaigns Underway as Candidates Spend Hundreds of Thousands of Euros

Election campaigns in Slovakia are gaining momentum, with candidates already spending hundreds of thousands of euros on their political messaging, according to data tracked by the transparency watchdog Transparency International Slovakia. Among the top spenders, candidates from Košice and the progressive liberal party Progresívne Slovensko (PS) are leading in campaign expenditure. PS, currently the main opposition force in Slovakia, has positioned itself as a pro-European, liberal alternative to the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party. Campaign finance transparency is a closely watched issue in Slovak politics, where concerns about the influence of money in elections have persisted for years. The high early spending signals an intensely competitive electoral race ahead.