Opposition Party Files Criminal Complaint Over Transport Ministry's PPP Advisory Contract

Slovakia's liberal opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) has filed a criminal complaint over a government procurement contract awarded by the Ministry of Transport for consulting services related to public-private partnership (PPP) projects. The party alleges the contract raises serious doubts about its economic efficiency and transparency. SaS, a center-right, pro-European opposition party, has questioned whether the procurement process followed proper procedures and whether public funds were spent appropriately. PPP projects involve cooperation between state authorities and private companies to finance and deliver public infrastructure, such as roads or railways, and often involve large sums of public money. The complaint adds to broader tensions between the opposition and Slovakia's ruling coalition government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer-SD party. The transport sector has been a recurring focus of scrutiny in Slovakia, given the scale of infrastructure investment and the potential for irregularities in public procurement. A criminal complaint in Slovakia triggers a formal review by police and prosecutors, who must assess whether grounds exist for a full investigation.