Eastern Slovak Mayors Use Public Funds Most Heavily for Self-Promotion in Municipal Publications

Mayors in eastern Slovak cities are using municipal newspapers funded by public money most extensively for their own campaign promotion, according to an evaluation by Transparency International Slovakia. The anti-corruption watchdog examined how local officials across the country utilize publicly-funded municipal publications to boost their profiles and political messaging. The assessment also covered regional newspapers published by county governments, known as župné noviny in Slovakia. The findings highlight concerns about the misuse of taxpayer money for political self-promotion, particularly among municipal leaders in Slovakia's eastern regions, where the practice appears most prevalent.