Slovak Court Gives Suspended Sentence to Smer Official Who Embezzled EU Agricultural Funds

A Slovak court sentenced Ľubica Rošková, a regional official from the ruling Smer-SD party, to a two-year suspended sentence and a 10,000-euro fine for embezzling more than 150,000 euros in EU agricultural subsidies. The lenient sentence was made possible by recent legal amendments passed by Prime Minister Robert Fico's government that reduced penalties for corruption and fraud offenses. Rošková, who was known as an influential regional Smer functionary, benefited from the legislative changes that softened criminal sanctions for such crimes. The case has drawn criticism from anti-corruption advocates who argue that the government's legal reforms are designed to protect party officials from serious consequences for financial crimes involving public funds.