BRATISLAVA, December 10, (WEBNOVINY) – SMER-SD deputy Robert Fico thinks that parliament should hold the election of the new prosecutor general at its ongoing session. “As of February 3 the Prosecutor General Office will be probably paralyzed and I believe that the parliament has the duty to use every occasion to attempt to elect the prosecutor general’, said Fico in parliament. He appealed on Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulik to not wait but give MPs the possibility to submit candidates for the post by Monday evening so that the secret ballot was held already at the ongoing session.
Fico argued that given that the term in office of the incumbent Prosecutor General Dobroslav Trnka ends on February 3 and taking into consideration the ruling coalition’ proposal to change the secret ballot to an open vote then the new prosecutor general will be elected in May or June at the soonest. “What does entitle you in the ruling coalition to circumvent the constitution, what does entitle you to make the Prosecutor General Office as a monocratically managed organ non-functional until May or June 2011?’ The fact that you are not able to strike a accord and are accusing each other of treason is not the lawful reason for postponing the prosecutor general election,” said Fico.
It might happen, according to Fico that the coalition will elect the prosecutor general what he however does not expect because it is not able to agree even on other things while this one will be overshadowed by constitutional complaints and a motion at the Constitutional Court. Fico warned that it might happen that an undemocratically elected prosecutor general will adopt decisions regarding the monocratic management of the Prosecutor General Office and the Constitutional Court will say that it was at odds with the constitution, “You are putting at risk the rule of law,” he said.
“I am not sure whether this is the right method, let’s visit me and we can discuss it, I am inviting you to see me”, Sulik answered.
MOST-HID Chairman Bela Bugar does not consider the demand of SMER-SD leader Fico to have the prosecutor general election next week realistic. He said that they would hardly manage it taken into consideration that they did not come to an agreement within two months. He simply doubts that they are able to agree within one or two days. Bugar said that Fico is not right when he says that as of February 3 when Trnka’ term comes to its end ad his successor is not elected this institution will break. “But as far as the possibility is concerned to have talks on the possible agreement between the opposition and the coalition, I do not refuse it,” he said.
KDH Deputy Chairman Pavol Hrusovsky sees seeking the solution regarding the prosecutor general election as the only possible way at the moment. “I would not be glad if mutual suspecting continues. It does not boost relations in the coalition, but, on contrary, worsens them, so chin up and start looking for a solution,“ he said.
Sulik told the SITA newswire that in the meanwhile he has talked with Fico on his suggestions. He is going to submit them at the Coalition Council’s meeting on Monday. He however did not want to elaborate on what they talked about.
SITA