Ivan Korčok, a former presidential candidate and member of Progressive Slovakia, has called on Slovak President Peter Pellegrini to take a clear stance on suspicions of illegal financing during the 2024 presidential campaign. Korčok stressed that neither he nor his campaign team ever offered financial rewards for public endorsements. He said the president owes the public an explanation regarding alleged payments to influencers and where such expenses would appear on the transparent campaign account.
Korčok also noted that Pellegrini had previously received a fine for breaching campaign financing rules, calling it troubling that the debate now focuses on how he reached the presidential office. The allegations surfaced after Denník N reported that police had summoned an influencer for questioning. The report claims that during the campaign another influencer allegedly offered €30,000 for social media support of Pellegrini.
Slovak police confirmed that the anti-corruption unit of the organized crime bureau is investigating the financing of the president’s campaign. However, authorities said they cannot provide further details at this stage, warning that releasing information could hinder the collection and evaluation of evidence. They emphasized that every report suggesting a possible violation of the law is examined objectively and without bias.
Pellegrini has firmly denied the accusations, saying he neither paid influencers nor requested their support. In a video posted on social media, he stated that voters should decide elections based on their own opinions rather than online influence. He also said he welcomes the investigation and is confident it will prove the allegations false.
The police reiterated that they are reviewing all publicly available information and will share updates when the procedural situation allows. The case continues to draw political attention as questions remain about whether any payments for social media promotion were made and properly declared as campaign expenses.
Source: TASR
