Fico: Opposition will be Harassed if Immunity is Scrapped
BRATISLAVA, January 12, (WEBNOVINY) – Chairman of the strongest opposition party SMER-SD, former Prime Minister Robert Fico, is concerned that the opposition might be harassed by police if parliament scraps immunity of constitutional official on minor transgressions, as planned by the coalition. “I can very clearly imagine that if immunity on small offenses is scrapped, our Hollywood minister of interior will deploy a few cops to follow representatives of the opposition who will monitor whether I do not park with one wheel on the lawn or too close to a pedestrian crossing. These are matters, which will successfully nourish a biased reputation of a concrete politician,” said Fico.
Fico alleges that the immunity proposal of the coalition quartet is just a maneuver to mask the topic of the day, which is massive and nonsensical growth of prices. He said that the immunity does not serve to protect MPs from being penalized for speeding or drawing under the influence of alcohol or committing crimes. Its role is, underscored Fico, to secure that MPs are able to execute their mandate without interference, so that they cannot be harassed by the ruling majority.
The Justice Ministry will not submit an amendment to the law aiming at curtailing immunity of lawmakers and judges from prosecution for minor offenses. “Deputies should do so”, said Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska (SDKU-DS) after the Cabinet session on Wednesday.
The minister insists that the position of all constitutional officials should be compatible and equal, also from the viewpoint of immunity from prosecution for transgressions. She explained that immunity on minor offenses of judges should be curbed in the same scope as immunity of parliamentary deputies.
The coalition wants to curb immunity concerning minor offenses after the opposition toppled its amendment to the Constitution, which was to curtail MPs‘ immunity also in the area of criminal responsibility. To reduce immunity on minor offenses the ruling coalition does not need the constitutional majority of ninety votes. It has enough votes to push it through.
Minister Zitnanska informed that her ministry is working on introduction of criminal prosecution for those who erect illegal buildings. She underscored that it is not a simple task as the ministry has to take into consideration the construction law and also how gravely the law was breached, i.e. the size of the building constructed without necessary permits. The minister added that her department will submit the draft to the prosecutor office for review. Zitnanska said they would inform of details of the suggestion only after accord is reached on its content and the draft will be ripe to go to interdepartmental review.
SITA