Protests against Fico's government continue in Slovakia
Kyiv • UNN
Thousands of people protested in Slovakia against the plans of the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico to amend the criminal code, in particular, to abolish the special prosecutor's office for investigating serious crimes. The EU expressed concern that these changes could undermine the rule of law.
Thousands of of people protested against the government of Robert Fico in Slovakia, the third anti-government demonstration in less than two weeks. This was reported by UNN with reference to Seznam Zprávy and Associated Press.
Details
In Bratislava the third demonstration in the last two weeks against the plan of the country's new government, under the leadership of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, to amend the to the Slovak criminal code. The protests were also joined by residents of other Slovak cities. In particular, in the northern Slovak city of Zilina 2,500 people came out, and in Nitra - about 2,000 demonstrators. The anti-government protest in Košice was attended by about 1,500 people, which is about two-thirds more than last week's rally, writes Denik N.
Context
Changes, proposed by the coalition government include a proposal to abolish by mid January, a special prosecutor's office that deals with serious crimes such as bribery, organized crime and extremism. According to the proposal, these cases will now be transferred to regional prosecutors' offices, which have not dealt with such crimes for 20 years.
On Monday. The European Public Prosecutor's Office said that these proposals pose a serious risk of undermining the rule of law.
In turn, the opposition Slovak opposition parties demand that the government coalition withdraw the amendments to the to the Criminal Code and relevant laws, by which the Cabinet wants to push through not only the liquidation of the special prosecutor's office in mid-January next year, but also for example, to reduce the penalties for corruption and economic crimes, Seznam Zprávy portal.
The opposition also began to obstruct the work of the parliament, which has not yet received proposals for changes in criminal law and justice. But government policy makers have, as have made it clear that they are insist on their proposals.
Recall
UNN reported that the Slovak opposition is planning new protests in at least eight cities against the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico for trying to eliminate the special prosecutor's office and to soften the punishment for corruption.
Earlier it became that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized EU Commissioner for Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, who called on Bratislava to abandon radical changes in criminal law.
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