The debate on a vote of no confidence in the Interior Minister continued this morning, after it was suspended Thursday. The Chairman of Parliament, Peter Pellegrini, suspended the meeting at noon and said it will resume next week, on Tuesday.
The opposition criticizes the minister, Matus Sutaj Estok, mainly for suspending six police officers who were investigating politically sensitive cases. They say that the policemen were protected by the Whistleblower Act. "When a government writes in its manifesto that it will make sure that the government and institutions comply with laws, it seems very inappropriate when two independent courts rule that the minister has violated the law," said one opposition MP in a press conference before the debate.
Prime Minister Robert Fico on Thursday was the first to speak in the debate. He defended his minister, saying: anyone can file a criminal complaint, declare themselves a whistleblower of anti-social activity and it won't be possible to oust them. He emphasised that the minister decided not to cooperate with some people after taking office and has the right to choose his collaborators.
Sutaj Estok’s case is strengthened by conflicting decisions in the courts. They disagree on the status of the Whistleblower Act: whether it supersedes normal labour and employment laws, or not. Two judges said yes, the most recent decision said no.
Former police chief Tibor Gaspar, now a member of parliament for the governing party Smer, said that replacing police officers was normal procedure for a new minister.
A number of opposition MPs criticizes Sutaj Estok for leaving the meeting hall right after he finished speaking.
Mária Kolíková (SaS) also blames the coalition for only trying to block the opposition's speeches in the debate.
(TASR)
