The bill requires the special prosecutor’s office to cease operations by January 15. Prosecutors are expected to work under the attorney general, and regional offices will handle pending cases.
President Zuzana Čaputová, the opposition and NGOs protested against this decision. According to them, this undermines the principle of the rule of law. Čaputová called the government’s plans for the legal system “unfortunate and dangerous”.
The law requires the approval of parliament and the president. The three-party coalition has a majority in parliament. President Caputova could veto the changes or challenge them in the Constitutional Court, but the coalition can still override her veto with a simple majority.
As one of the first decisions, Fico, having returned to power for the fourth time, stopped providing military aid to Ukraine. Fico also opposes EU sanctions against Russia and wants to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
Fico’s critics fear he could push Slovakia to abandon its pro-Western course, following the example of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Hungary.
Due to corruption, some of the investigators and police officers involved in these cases have been ordered to stay home or fired. Among other changes to the legal system, the government plans to ease penalties for corruption.
The previous government came to power in 2020 after an anti-corruption campaign. Dozens of senior officials, policemen, judges, prosecutors, politicians and businessmen linked to the Fico party have been accused and convicted of corruption and other crimes.
Slovakia’s Transparency International reported that 95% of defendants, including public officials, whose cases were brought to court by the Special Prosecutor’s Office were convicted and punished.
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2023-12-06 16:25:07
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