Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová said on Monday that she believes Deputy Justice Minister Monika Jankovská should resign in order to help restore public trust in the country's officials, particularly within the judiciary. It is "untenable", said the president, that she "remain in one of the highest positions in the Ministry of Justice." Čaputová said this in a public statement made on Monday in the wake of a scandal that has erupted in recent days over alleged contacts between Jankovská and notorious businessman Marián Kočner, who is currently awaiting trial for ordering the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak. In communications that allegedly came from Kočner, he referred to Jankovská as his "little pet monkey" at the Justice Ministry. Jankovská has already handed over her mobile phone to police investigators, who have also seized the phones of several judges and prosecutors in connection with the case. On her facebook profile, Jankovská has denied having met or communicated with Kočner, and has said she will take legal steps in connection with the allegations, including filing a lawsuit against OLaNO leader Igor Matovič for slander.
In her statement on Monday, Čaputová said that Slovakia is at an important crossroads, adding that it's crucial that the country take certain steps in order to restore trust in its public officials. Among the steps to be taken, the president mentioned the need for an independent police inspection unit, a functioning disciplinary system for judges, and an effective system of professional ethics. Čaputová's statements echo what other politicians have recently said concerning the scandal, for example representatives of Andrej Kiska's newly established For the People party, who believe that her resignation is in the interest of restoring citizens' trust in the justice system. On Monday morning, some 50 people, including MPs and Bratislava city councillors, gathered in front of the Justice Ministry building to demand that Jankovská be dismissed from her post.
