House passes declaration on Mečiar’s Amnesties to second reading

Parliament on Tuesday passed to its second reading a declaration condemning the 1995 kidnapping of then President Michal Kováč's son Michal Jr. abroad. Also condemned were the 1998 amnesties issued by the then prime minister and acting president Vladimir Mečiar, which stopped law enforcement activities and investigations into the case. The declaration was passed at its first reading by 88 votes, while an Opposition proposal to scrap the amnesties altogether was also passed to its second reading with 78 votes. "Slovak society has for a long time been concerned about the failure to bring clarity and impose punishments for the kidnapping of Michal Kováč Jr. abroad. The administration of justice was prevented by amnesties granted by then Prime Minister Vladimir Mečiar," reads the declaration. Meanwhile, Ján Budaj (OĽaNO-NOVA) saw his proposal to declare the amnesties null and void passed to its second reading, but the bill will then need at least 90 votes to be approved. It received only 78 at its first reading.