The parliamentary commission investigating the alleged illegal financing of political parties has recently questioned a subcontractor and business partner of Nivo Eko, accusing them of providing advertising concessions to media outlets close to the SDS party. The director of NGN Eko, Tadej Hat, and DL Naložbe’s director, Gregor Napret, confirmed their collaboration with Nivo Eko and advertising in these media outlets.
According to the commission’s interim report, certain construction companies allegedly made financial contributions to media outlets close to SDS in exchange for concessions for watercourse cleaning. These media outlets include Nova Obzorja, Demokracija, and Lanaka Media. The report suggests that the regular payments made by these companies significantly exceeded the market rates for advertising, raising suspicions of fictitious services being paid for. The advertising contracts totaling 500,000 euros were reportedly signed during the period when these construction companies obtained concessions for watercourse management and cleaning from the Ministry of the Environment, then led by Andrej Vizjak.
Director of NGN Eko, Tadej Hat, confirmed the company’s collaboration with Nivo Eko, stating that they provide construction services at all levels of their operations, including watercourse management. He acknowledged Nivo Eko as one of their major clients, although not the only one, with a predominant share of their joint revenues. Hat explained that their decision to advertise in Požareport and Demokracija from 2020-2022 was driven by the need to attract new clients during a period of reduced business activity due to the pandemic.
When questioned about the increase in revenues during the same period, Hat attributed it to a higher workload in 2021 and 2022 compared to 2020. He denied overpaying for advertising, stating that they followed the offer and order terms. Hat emphasized the importance of advertising for securing contracts and maintaining staff salaries.
DL Naložbe’s director, Gregor Napret, also confirmed their partnership with Nivo Eko, highlighting occasional services provided by Nivo Eko, such as machine servicing. Napret clarified that DL Naložbe advertised in various media outlets, including Demokracija and Škandal24, during the period under investigation by the commission.
Napret denied any financial transactions between DL Naložbe and Nivo Eko, emphasizing that their advertising decisions were independent of political affiliations. He dismissed allegations of being influenced by specific individuals or parties in choosing where to advertise. Despite the lack of immediate returns from advertising, Napret defended their marketing strategy as a necessary business practice.
In conclusion, the testimonies of Tadej Hat and Gregor Napret shed light on the business relationships and advertising practices of NGN Eko and DL Naložbe with Nivo Eko. The ongoing investigation by the parliamentary commission aims to uncover any potential irregularities in the financing of political parties through media channels, highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability in political and business dealings.