Two Slovak City Councilors Face Charges for Vote Manipulation in Secret Ballot

Prosecutors have filed charges against two city councilors in Kežmarok, northern Slovakia, for allegedly falsifying a secret ballot during a crucial vote on changes to the city's territorial plan. A third councilor involved in the incident has reached a plea agreement with authorities. The case represents a significant precedent in Slovakia, highlighting vulnerabilities in local democratic processes and the mechanisms that govern municipal self-administration. The charges stem from what prosecutors describe as manipulation of the secret voting procedure during the key decision-making process about urban planning changes in the historic mountain town.