BRATISLAVA, September 1, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovakia is celebrating the Constitution Day as a national holiday on Wednesday; on this day, citizens of Slovakia commemorate the eighteenth anniversary of adoption of their Constitution by the Slovak Parliament. The constitution was adopted on September 1, 1992, and this de facto meant the establishment of the Slovak Republic as a sovereign and democratic country respecting the rule of law. The joint state of Czechs and Slovaks ceased to exist at midnight on December 31, 1992 and two sovereign countries originated: the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic.
The Constitution was approved by the Slovak Parliament at the fifth session of its election term. Out of 134 parliamentary deputies present in the 150-strong Parliament, 114 voted in favor of the draft, 16 were against and four abstained from the vote. The Constitution became effective on the date of promulgation, on October 1, 1992.
The Constitution consists of a set of fundamental legal norms on social structure, political organization and status of citizens, that all authorities and citizens are obliged to observe. It is composed of the preamble and nine chapters. It sets out fundamental rights and freedoms, political rights, rights of ethnic minorities, social, cultural, and economic rights as well as the right to court and legal protection. The constitution also establishes the separation of powers as one of the fundamental principles of the rule of law. The legislative power is represented by the parliament, the executive power by the Cabinet and the president and the judicial power by the Constitutional Court and independent courts. Most of the provisions of the Constitution only came into effect on January 1, 1993, i.e., the day independent Slovak Republic was established.
This year’s celebrations of the Constitution Day are marked by a tragedy that happened in Bratislava residential district of Devinska Nova Ves on Monday, when a gunman shot and killed seven people before being shot and killed himself. In connection with the shooting rampage, the Cabinet decided to declare a day of national mourning on September 2. The Cabinet also cancelled the planned Open Day at the Cabinet’s Office and a condolence book will be laid in the hall. State flags will also be flown half-mast all day on Thursday.
SITA
