Parliament on Thursday morning began dealing with giving its consent for ex-premier and Smer-SD leader Robert Fico to be taken into custody. The parliamentary mandate and immunity committee has already adopted a resolution, recommending that the House should approve it. The Coalition stresses that its first concern is justice. The opposition Social Democrats, for their part, declare that they will never obstruct the investigation, but regard the accusation against their leader as a fabrication to silence the opposition.
The Prosecutor General's Office requested the National Council to extradite Robert Fico, who is charged with setting up a criminal group and disclosing bank secrets. However, the chief prosecutor cannot go to court and ask for detention, as was the case of former minister Robert Kaliňák, without the consent of MPs.
“Everybody is equal before the law, even deputy Fico. How are citizens supposed to trust justice, if the former three times Prime Minister is avoiding investigation?” asked Anna Zemanová, head of the coalition Freedom and Solidarity parliamentary club. She also reminded Robert Fico of his approval vote from 20 years ago, when the parliament was deciding on the extradition of ex-intelligence service chief and then HZDS deputy Ivan Lexa.
According to Robert Fico himself, his party will never oppose the investigation. However, he resolutely rejects the accusations he is facing and regards them as a coalition revanche against the opposition.
As many as 35 MPs have signed up in writing to Thursday’s debate on the extradition of Robert Fico. According to the deputy chair of the parliament, Gábor Grendel (OĽANO), if everyone used their full time space, the debate would last more than 12 hours. Afterwards, deputies can still report orally. In that case, the Smer leader's extradition will not be voted on until next week.
Ladislav Masár, prosecutor at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, says they are only asking for Fico's detention for the necessary time - during the interrogation of witnesses to prevent them from being influenced. Investigators plan to question the witnesses in May.
Source: Matej Beranek, RTVS
