Banská Bystrica Regional (BBSK) Governor Marian Kotleba would only be faced with losing his job if he repeatedly acted in contravention of the constitutional act on the protection of public interest, according to lawyer with Transparency International Slovensko, Vladimir Pirošik. His comments come in response to two criminal complaints filed against Kotleba by the Sieť party deputy chairman Miroslav Beblavý over Kotleba coercing BBSK employees to make contributions to his People's Party - Our Slovakia party and Kotleba's continuing involvement in business after taking his oath of office as BBSK regional governor more than a year ago. Kotleba's actions will first be subject to a vote of the regional council. Should the council decide by the required three-fifths majority of members present that Kotleba had acted against the constitution, the governor will be able to challenge the decision at the Constitutional Court, whereupon the court will then be required to make a decision within 60 days.
One of Beblavý's motions concerns information that recently surfaced in the media according to which employees of the regional authority have had to transfer part of their salaries into Kotleba's bank account. The other complaint concerns Kotleba's licence under the business name 'Mgr. Marian Kotleba - KKK - ANGLICKA MODA' for his clothing shop in Banská Bystrica. Beblavý said on Wednesday that the licence to run the outlet was put on hold as of June 1, 2014. Nevertheless, Kotleba - who was elected as Banská Bystrica regional governor in November 2013 and assumed office in December 2013 - was supposed to end his business activities within 30 days of being appointed. Kotleba was not available for comment on these allegations.
