Slovak MPs meet on Tuesday for their first session of the year, opening with proposed changes to parliament’s rules of procedure. Under the draft, MPs who break the rules could face sanctions. Speaker Richard Raši (HLAS-SD) said the proposal is a response to December’s chaos and is meant to restore dignity to parliament. He said MPs who disrupt debates could be expelled from the chamber and lose a month’s salary, including allowances.
Under the new rules, parliament would have 37 and a half hours to debate a single item. Opposition PS party leader Michal Šimečka said the move is an attempt to silence criticism and warned that less debate would lead to poorer laws. Deputy Speaker Tibor Gašpar (SMER-SD) disagreed, saying the changes protect the majority from obstruction.
The proposal also requires proper dress, bans visual aids and stops MPs from approaching speakers at the lectern. Meanwhile, opposition Slovensko party leader Igor Matovič said the real problem lies elsewhere, arguing that alcohol consumption in parliament remains unaddressed under the new rules.
Source: STVR, TASR
