BRATISLAVA, October 8, (WEBNOVINY) — Finance Minister Ivan Miklos (SDKU-DS) won the libel lawsuit, which has dragged on for seven and a half years, in which he sued the leader of the opposition party SMER-SD Robert Fico, who must now apologize to him for a statement he made in 2003. At that time, Fico expressed a suspicion that commissions associated with privatization may be the source of Miklos’ alleged enormous wealth. The Bratislava I District Court issued its ruling on the case and ordered Fico to also settle court costs. “I will not comment on the ruling, we will appeal,” said Fico’s lawyer Zuzana Kupcova.
Miklos‘ lawyer Ernest Valko pointed out in his closing speech that Fico had not proven his statement about Miklos having increased his wealth during privatization to be true. Valko said Fico did not have evidence for what he claimed and only scandalized his client.
Fico’s lawyer Zuzana Kupcova argued that her client felt obliged to point out non-transparent and non-standard practices during the time when he was a leader of the strongest opposition party and that he already drawn attention to the privatization before he made the statement for which he was sued by Miklos.
SITA