Family values campaigners caught in alleged affair

Emails have been leaked between former Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) chairman Jan Figeľ and Nataša Žembová, his former spokesperson and face of the Alliance for Family referendum campaign. The leaked e-mail conversation dates back to April 2015 and indicates a love affair between the two Christian Democrats. "Have some rest, my love. I had a shower and I'm going to write a statement on Armenians", Figeľ allegedly wrote to Žembová. She responded with: "Had a shower alone? Without me? Oh my..." The news portal Topky.sk pointed out that, if proven true, the extramarital affair between Figeľ, 56, father of four, and Žembová, 40, is all the more delicate because both were vocal supporters of pro-family referendum campaign. "I uphold family values - family made of father, mother and children. I'm the mother of three and been married for 15 years", Žembová said during the campaign. She has since separated from her husband. Figeľ however has denied any allegations, claiming, "We're just family friends ... This could be some fabrication, because ill-wishers and opponents out there are aplenty". Liberal MP Martin Poliačik (SaS) believes only voters and partners should judge the couple. "They are adults; let them act to the best of their judgement," he claimed. Another liberal and former MP Martin Chren however considers such behaviour to be an exercise in hypocrisy. "It's not up to me to comment on a private relationship between two people. However, it holds true that the most prevalent human-nature problem in Slovak politics is hypocrisy and this has always held true particularly for politicians who emerged from KDH. They always care more to meddle into lives of other people rather than practice what they preach", said Chren, referring to KDH's support for Alliance for Family in the unsuccessful campaign of February 2015.