BRATISLAVA, December 17, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic said on Monday he would not wait for a decision of the Constitutional Court on the complaint of Jozef Centes, who alleged a violation of his right of access to elected and other public offices and other rights. Prior to the verdict, the head of state will decide whether he would appoint the Parliament-elected candidate for Prosecutor General or not. He did not specify whether his decision will come now or after the winter holidays. But he will definitely decide before he originally planned to decide, i.e., after the final decision of the Constitutional Court, said Gasparovic. The president confirmed this after today’s meeting with the leaders of three opposition parties that formed the People’s Platform (KDH, MOST-HID, and SDKU-DS), who appealed to the head of state to appoint the elected candidate Jozef Centes to the post of Prosecutor General.
The president explained his decision not to wait for the Constitutional Court verdict on Centes’ complaint by the circumstances that precede its decision-making. The Constitutional Court was already supposed to decide on November 20 on this complaint, but following his objection of bias of two judges, the court postponed its decision. The president said he learned that the court has accepted this objection and will probably change the composition of the panel of judges. „I also learned also that the Constitutional Court will probably go on a winter leave,“ said the president. He added that he does not know how long it will take for the new panel to study the case files. He will therefore, consider the situation and decide.
The president did not specify whether he would appoint Centes or not, but mentioned a principle that he would follow. „For me, no political pressure will exist, I will ignore it,“ he said and pointed out that his decision will be consistent with the Constitution.
Leader of the opposition SDKU-DS Pavol Freso described as intolerable the situation when the General Prosecutor’s Office does not have its head. „How the president decides, it is up to him, for us it is essential that he decides quickly,“ said Freso. He added that in their opinion they are clearly convinced that the candidate was for the post of Prosecutor General was elected properly. He therefore should have been appointed into office. He did not comment on the possible development if the president decides against the appointment of Centes and the government of SMER-SD would quickly elect a new candidate for Prosecutor General. „Speculating on how the governing majority decides in case of potential rejection of Centes – that is up to them,“ said Freso. He however thinks that after the experience so far, a broader political consensus should be sought. „But I have no illusion about how SMER-SD would decide,“ he said.
President Gasparovic said in reference to members of parliament during the previous term that elected Centes that they knew well in advance of the ending term in office of the Prosecutor General and were unable to elect a candidate for the post in time. „Do not look for fault in someone else, first of all look for fault in yourself, gentlemen,“ he said.
SITA