BRATISLAVA, September 12, (WEBNOVINY) – Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulik (SaS) believes that behind the criticism of his person regarding the incompetence to handle the post, is that some deputies, including his predecessor Pavol Paska, “cannot stand him” as he has decided to end some “nonsense traditions”, such as tolerating absences in the Parliament. He added that although he lacks experience on the post, he will insist on discipline in the Parliament, unlike Pavol Paska, Sulik stated on air of the television Markiza, in Sunday’s political debate program Na Telo. Sulik added that for instance Jan Pociatek (deputy for the opposition SMER-SD) cannot go on vacation during a parliamentary session, or Jan Slota (SNS) cannot write that he attended a commemoration ceremony that started in the evening, and because of that he was absent in Parliament all day. Similarly, SDKU-DS deputy Katarina Cibulkova, who was absent all week, will not get her monthly wage. The speaker of parliament added that there is no space for discussion about the issue.
Former Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paska (SMER-SD) reacted by saying that what Sulik said on the television debate confirms his incompetence and lack of understanding of what the constitutional role of a deputy means and what parliamentarism is. “Everywhere where a serious violation of duties of a deputy was committed, I always interfered and people who sat in parliament during the previous government as deputies know very well the way I handled such matters,” stated Paska, adding that Sulik believes that the parliament is his firm. “If Mr. Sulik wants to pursue his idea of heading the parliament as his own firm, without the respect for any elementary customs and principles, it is his decision,” declared Paska. He went on to say that Sulik then cannot be surprised that his images as a person unable to handle such a high post will deteriorate instead of improve.
Richard Sulik does not regret his decision to become Speaker of Parliament. He believes that he is able to do a lot in the Parliament, for instance secure that laws on the parliamentary grounds are obeyed. He said that Paska’s allegation that he heads the parliament as if it was his firm is “utter nonsense”. “Experienced old warhorses may not like it; they can call me inexperienced as much as they want, but once someone does not come, he will not see the salary,” Sulik stated.
SITA