Slovak President Pellegrini says he won’t sign legislation dismantling Whistleblowers Protection Office
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has refused to sign legislation dismantling the Whistleblowers Protection Office (ÚOO), which the ruling left-right coalition led by populist Prime Minister Robert Fico passed in the parliament earlier this week.
Pellegrini made the statement in a video message uploaded to his Facebook social media profile after the ruling coalition broke Pellegrini’s swift veto of the legislation and after a turbulent December 11 session at the parliament, which included a scuffle between some of the ruling coalition and opposition MPs, daily DennikN reported.
"I am determined not to sign the legislation dismantling the ÚOO not even after the breaking of the veto for the reasons which persist," Pellegrini said.
The country’s president, whose presidential campaign last year was backed by Fico’s ruling coalition, vetoed the legislation citing the EU’s objections to the dismantling of the Whistleblowers Protection Office as well as the shortened legislative procedure under which the move was passed, and for which there was no objective reason.
Pellegrini, who is often viewed by the country's liberal media and opposition as Fico's ally, also stated his decision is to be "guided by legal and democratic principles and the building of such reputation of Slovakia, which will be respected by partners at international institutions."
Fico slammed Pellegrini for his decision not to sign the legislation and stated this his Smer party would review its support for Pellegrini "in the next elections." Pellegrini's critics pointed out that the swift veto and its immediate override could, in fact, rush in the dismantling of ÚOO.
Pellegrini opened the video by stating that “I sharply condemn the way parliament approached the discussion of the amendment to the criminal code as well as the presidential veto regarding the dismantling of the Whistle-blowers Protection Office.”
Pellegrini was referring to the unrest at the parliamentary premises, caused by the narrow passing of the amendments to the criminal code, which includes controversial measures such as restricting collaboration with cooperating defendants, and introducing criminal offences such as defying World War II peace outcomes, or the “sabotaging of political campaigns”, which watchdogs fear could target journalists and online influencers.
Demonstrators marched through the streets of the capital Bratislava on December 11 protesting against the criminal code amendments, seen by critics as safeguarding officials from Fico’s Smer party against criminal investigations and as giving Fico’s coalition a tool to harass its critics.
The passing of the amendments was met with loud protests inside the parliament as well, including whistling from the opposition ranks.
Ruling coalition MP Erik Vlček (Hlas) threw an empty plastic bottle at populist leader Igor Matovič after Matovič recorded the unrest on his mobile phone, and placed a poster by the seat of Smer legislator Tibor Gašpar stating that “the accused Gašpar is voting for his amnesty”.
Gašpar faces criminal investigation over his ties to a criminal ring which is also alleged to involve Gašpar’s relative, the Nitra-based oligarch Norbert Bodor.
Daily SME reported, referring to a respected lawyer Peter Kubina, that the restrictions on collaboration with cooperating defendants passed by the parliament will affect all the criminal cases in the country in which any cooperating defendant testified, including the investigation into the 2018 murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kušnírová, which sparked mass demonstrations that forced Fico’s previous cabinet from power.
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