Slovakia’s Culture Ministry has become embroiled in controversy after approving a €650,000 purchase of tractors and other maintenance equipment, drawing criticism from opposition politicians who say the spending sits uneasily with recent cutbacks in the cultural sector.
The row centres on a public tender for gardening and grounds-maintenance machinery intended for state-owned museums, castles and historic estates. The purchase was signed off under Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, whose tenure has already been marked by tensions with parts of the artistic community.
Opposition MP Martina Bajo Holečková from the liberal Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS) says the ministry is sending mixed signals: demanding savings from theatres and artists while spending heavily on equipment.
“At a time when actors are losing permanent contracts because there is supposedly no money, the ministry is able to spend more than half a million euros on tractors and mowers,” she said.
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Allegations of overpricing
According to Bajo Holečková, five tractors were bought at an average price of around €86,000 each. She claims comparable models are advertised online for significantly less, arguing that the state may have overpaid by almost €200,000 in total.
The equipment is earmarked for several high-profile cultural sites, including Betliar Manor in eastern Slovakia, Červený Kameň Castle near Bratislava, the Museum of the Slovak Village in Martin, the Music Museum at Dolná Krupá Manor and the A. S. Pushkin Slavic Museum in Brodzany.
The contract was handled by the ministry’s Facility Management Authority, with agricultural services firm Agrokov Servis selected as the supplier.
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Ministry defends the tender
The ministry has rejected allegations of wasteful spending. In a statement, it said much of the existing equipment used at heritage sites dates back 30 to 40 years and has become increasingly expensive and inefficient to operate.
“Maintenance costs were disproportionate, spare parts were often unavailable and continued operation was no longer sustainable,” the ministry said.
It also stressed that the procurement followed Slovak and EU public procurement rules. Three bidders reportedly took part in the tender, and the winner was chosen solely on the basis of the lowest price meeting all technical and legal criteria.
The ministry argued that comparisons with online prices are misleading, as the contract covered a full package rather than bare vehicles. In addition to tractors, the deal includes trailers, snow ploughs, mowers, mulchers, salt spreaders and regular servicing in line with manufacturers’ requirements.