Slovakia's new government closes prosecutor's office that deals with corruption and serious crimes
Slovakia’s new government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico has approved an amendment to the country’s penal code to close the special prosecutor’s office that deals with the most serious crimes and corruption
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia’s new government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico approved on Wednesday an amendment to the country’s penal code to close the special prosecutor’s office that deals with the most serious crimes and corruption.
President Zuzana Caputova, the opposition and nongovernmental organizations protested the move, saying it will harm the rule of law in the country.
Caputova called the government's plans for the legal system «unfortunate and dangerous.»
The draft expects the special prosecutor’s office to cease operations by Jan 15. The prosecutors should move to work under the office of the prosecutor general while regional offices take over unfinished cases.
The legislation needs parliamentary and presidential approval. The three-party coalition has a majority in Parliament. President Caputova could veto the changes or challenge them at the Constitutional Court, but the coalition can override her veto by a simple majority.
Fico returned to power for the fourth time after his scandal-tainted leftist Smer, or Direction, party won Slovakia’s Sept. 30 parliamentary election on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform.
In one of its first decisions, his government ended Slovakia’s military aid for neighboring Ukraine in a dramatic turnaround in the country’s foreign policy that could strain a fragile unity in the European Union and NATO. Fico also opposes EU sanctions on Russia and wants to block Ukraine from joining NATO.
Fico’s critics worry that his return could lead Slovakia to
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