In a significant development shaking both Slovakian politics and European financial institutions, Peter Kažimír, Governor of Slovakia’s central bank and a former finance minister, was found guilty of bribery and fined €200,000 on Thursday. The ruling stems from a 2016 incident during Kažimír’s tenure as finance minister under Prime Minister Robert Fico, where he was accused of offering a €48,000 bribe to influence tax proceedings.
The recipient of the alleged bribe was František Imrecz, the former head of Slovakia’s Financial Administration. Prosecutors argued that Kažimír’s intent was to expedite tax processes in favor of businessman Ladislav Rehák, a personal acquaintance. The court’s ruling upholds a previous decision and notably doubles the original fine, adding further weight to the conviction.
Kažimír, known for his close political alliance with Prime Minister Fico, had repeatedly failed to appear in court during the trial. While he has yet to issue a formal statement, Slovak newspaper SME reports he is expected to hold a press conference and launch an appeal in the coming days.
The conviction not only puts Kažimír’s personal reputation at stake but also casts a shadow over the credibility of the European Central Bank (ECB), where he serves as a member of the Governing Council. The ECB has already been contending with reputational concerns following the resignation of Edward Scicluna, Malta’s central bank governor, who stepped down last year over a corruption scandal tied to a controversial hospital privatization deal during his time as finance minister.
Kažimír’s legal troubles come at a particularly sensitive time for the ECB. The institution is in the midst of a major leadership transition, with five national central bank governors — including Kažimír — reaching the end of their terms this year. His term officially concludes this Saturday, yet with no successor named by the Slovak government, he is likely to remain in a caretaker role, allowing him to participate in the ECB’s next Governing Council meeting scheduled for June 4–5.
The leadership shuffle across the eurozone continues to be marred by political gridlock. Slovenia’s central bank remains without a permanent head, as parliamentary factions fail to reach consensus on a replacement for Boštjan Vasle. Meanwhile, Portugal’s Mário Centeno — once considered a strong contender for a second term — faces uncertainty following a political shift after recent elections. His fate now lies with the incoming government of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
While Finland managed a smooth reappointment of Olli Rehn in March and Austria has lined up Martin Kocher to succeed Robert Holzmann in September, other transitions have been less straightforward. The Dutch central bank has also postponed naming a successor for Klaas Knot, whose term concludes at the end of June.
Kažimír’s conviction may yet prove more than a national scandal; it could serve as a litmus test for the ECB’s internal standards and governance mechanisms at a time when stability and integrity are critical for the eurozone’s financial future.
By FCCT Editorial Team freeslots dinogame telegram营销
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