Slovak lawmakers to fast-track criminal law reforms debate as protests continue

Slovakia's parliament will fast-track debate on proposals to scrap an anti-corruption prosecutor's office and lower sentences for financial crimes after lawmakers approved the move on Thursday despite objections and mass protests. Opposition parties had delayed the vote on whether to fast-track the criminal law reforms for weeks, looking to slow four-time Prime Minister Robert Fico's proposals that they argue will afford impunity for politicians and business leaders linked to him.


Reuters | Updated: 26-01-2024 00:34 IST | Created: 26-01-2024 00:34 IST
Slovak lawmakers to fast-track criminal law reforms debate as protests continue

Slovakia's parliament will fast-track debate on proposals to scrap an anti-corruption prosecutor's office and lower sentences for financial crimes after lawmakers approved the move on Thursday despite objections and mass protests.

Opposition parties had delayed the vote on whether to fast-track the criminal law reforms for weeks, looking to slow four-time Prime Minister Robert Fico's proposals that they argue will afford impunity for politicians and business leaders linked to him. Fast-tracking the reforms, which will shorten debate and could allow a vote next week, has also raised warnings from the European Union and United States.

Opposition parties have led near-weekly protests since early December drawing tens of thousands, and nationwide rallies continued on Thursday evening with crowds chanting "Enough of Fico!" and "We will not be quiet". The leftist government led by Fico says the reforms would end what it calls excesses at the Special Prosecution Office (USP) which he has accused of bias against his party. Fico has also argued that sentences are too harsh compared with many European countries.

Fico defended the plans but said on Thursday the government was ready to consider amendments suggested by the EU executive European Commission or Slovakia's general prosecutor. "But these proposals will not change anything toward the basic fundamental change to the criminal code, criminal procedure and the plan to cancel the office of the special prosecutor," Fico told a news conference webcast on Facebook.

President Zuzana Caputova has said speeding through the changes is unprecedented. The proposed reforms would allow suspended sentences for many more financial crimes, and shorten the statute of limitations, which Caputova said would exonerate many suspects of crimes under investigation or on trial now.

The commission and the United States have objected to hasty reforms that could affect the rule of law. This issue has pitted central European neighbours Hungary and Poland against Brussels in recent years. The president and opposition have said Slovakia risks losing EU funds with the reforms, which Fico rejects.

"There is more of us than last time," Michal Simecka, leader of the biggest opposition party Progressive Slovakia, told Bratislava's crowd of an estimated 27,000 protesters on Thursday evening. "(Robert Fico) has underestimated your resolve to protect justice." Fico won a September election after resigning in 2018 amid mass street protests that followed the murder of a journalist investigating public corruption.

The USP opened a number of cases against business leaders, members of the judiciary and police following a 2020 election victory by parties promising to fight graft. While in opposition, Fico himself faced police charges which were later dropped.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Give Feedback