President Peter Pellegrini signed an amendment to the Criminal Code ahead of the Christmas holidays. The amendment reinstates the “three strikes and you’re out” rule for petty theft and introduces new criminal offences, including influencing elections from abroad and denying the post-war settlement of Czechoslovakia. It also tightens the rules on the use of testimony from cooperating offenders. Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka criticised the move, saying expert opinions were not sufficiently considered. Opposition parties have called the president’s decision a failure and plan to turn to the Constitutional Court. The governing coalition, however, welcomed the signing and rejected claims that the changes would benefit criminals.
Source: STVR
