European Union (EU) lawmakers on Wednesday, the 17th of January, expressed “serious concern” about Slovakia’s plans to amend the Criminal Code and abolish the special prosecutor’s office (USP), which for two decades has dealt with serious corruption cases, while stepping up criticism of the government’s plan to speed up the changes, reports Reuters.
The European Parliament (EP) backed the resolution by 496 votes to 630, calling for a thorough review of the amendments. The resolution also calls on the European Commission (EC) to act to preserve the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.
The government of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, in power since October, introduced the legislative changes in December. These changes have sparked protests led by pro-Western liberal and conservative opposition parties.
The opposition argues that the closure of the special prosecutor’s office and the changes to the law
could protect government allies from prosecution
and jeopardise access to EU funds, potentially undermining the rule of law – a problem that has also aggravated Poland’s and Hungary’s relations with the EU.
The EC have already expressed their opposition, while Slovak President Zuzana Caputova has threatened to veto the legislation, although the Fico government may override her veto.
The EP resolution says that the amendments to the Slovak Criminal Code and the abolition USP undermine the integrity of judicial proceedings, undermine the EU’s fight against fraud and threaten the protection of the EU’s financial interests.
Reuters reports that in mid-December, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders announced that the EC could take action if Slovakia’s amendments to its criminal code violated EU law.
The Slovak Prime Minister on Wednesday criticised the EP resolution, calling it an interference in domestic politics.
He accused Slovak opposition politicians of spreading “nonsense and lies” about Slovakia in the EP, describing the opposition at home and abroad as engaged in political manoeuvres and dirty tricks, saying it was time for the government to confront these attacks.
The government’s plan also includes limiting whistleblower protection and reducing penalties for financial crimes.
After the 2020 elections were won by parties that promised to eliminate bribery, the USP brought several cases against businessmen, the judiciary and police officers.
Charges were brought against Prime Minister Robert Fico when he was in opposition, but were dropped. When Fico returned to power in October, he accused the USP and its leader Daniel Lipsic, a former justice minister, of political bias against his party SMER-SSD, writes Reuters.
Also read: Slovakia’s Robert Fico to become the new Prime Minister for the fourth time
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