European Commission threatens Slovakia with penalties over withheld LGBT grant funds

The European Commission has threatened Slovakia with sanctions for withholding European Union grant money from Saplinq, an LGBT organization, for more than a year. Officials at the Education Ministry, led by Minister Tomáš Drucker, have reportedly blocked the funds with explanations citing "because it's LGBT" and "orders from the minister." The controversy has created internal tensions within the ministry, with a whistleblowing official facing workplace harassment and her supervisor being forced to leave the organization. The case highlights ongoing tensions between Slovakia's government and EU institutions over LGBT rights and the proper distribution of European funding.