Slovakia’s Fico slams Commission’s threats to freeze EU funds

11 months ago 33

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has hit out at EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders for saying the Commission would take action if Slovakia changed its criminal legislation that breached EU law after the government ignored calls to take a slower approach last week.

“It is a pity that the commissioner deliberately did not state the reasons for which the government is proceeding with the abolition of the SPO,” said Fico.

“There are dozens of findings of the Constitutional Court on human rights violations”, he added, noting that Reynders has been informed about them.

“I will not comment now on his motives to conceal these serious facts,” he remarked.

In a video posted online, Fico also verbally attacked Slovak opposition MEPs who criticised his government’s latest moves in the plenary, calling them “Slovak Rats in the European Parliament”, adding that “even rats would not do what they did,” and that “their intention is to damage Slovakia.”

“It is obvious that the plan to dismantle the SPO is purposefully connected with the effort to help people associated with Smer,” said the Slovak opposition MEP Ivan Štefanec (EPP).

For example, the Special Prosecutor’s Office oversaw the corruption case against Smer candidate Dušan Kováčik, who was sentenced to eight years in prison, as well as the case against current Smer MP Tibor Gašpar.

But opposition to the government’s plans for a special prosecutor is growing as thousands took to the streets this week to join public protests organised by the Slovak opposition.

Civil activists and organisations are also mobilising, including Za slušné Slovensko (For a Decent Slovakia), which in 2018 organised the protests that followed the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and ultimately led to Fico resigning as prime minister.

(Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk)