House Inquorate Yet Again, No Special Session on NAKA Operation

Bratislava, August 22 (TASR) - Repeated attempts on Tuesday to initiate a Smer-convened special House session meant to address the National Crime Agency's Operation Resolution from last week ended in failure, as MPs failed yet again to meet a quorum. The House previously failed to launch the session for the same reason on Monday. The Smer-SD party wanted Parliament to pass a resolution stating that "the constitutional and security crisis in Slovakia has been deepened to an unprecedented degree following NAKA's action, okayed by the Special Prosecutor's Office (USP), against officials of the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS), the National Security Bureau (NBU), the Interior Ministry Inspectorate, the prosecution service and other security bodies". The resolution further stated that Parliament "with concern warns NAKA and USP" that the aforementioned police operation will raise serious doubts abroad regarding the functioning of the democratic establishment in Slovakia. At the same time, the party wanted to oblige President Zuzana Caputova to carry out her basic duty to ensure the proper functioning of the constitutional bodies and to appear before Parliament to inform MPs about the situation that has arisen and about the measures that she has taken within her powers. Moreover, the party also wanted to oblige caretaker Premier Ludovit Odor, who has been tasked with managing the Interior Ministry, to immediately dismiss police chief Stefan Hamran. NAKA pressed charges against a number of individuals, including SIS and NBU top officials, under Operation Resolution on Thursday, August 17. The charges concern a criminal group that obstructed investigations into corruption and other criminal cases, created the impression that witness testimonies are being manipulated by investigators and attempted to discredit the law-enforcement authorities. Two other police officers have been charged with abusing the powers of a public official out of vengeance. The Security Council met regarding the situation on Friday, August 18. Both the president and premier declared that no coup is taking place and that the given institutions are operating normally and are functional. They see room to take action against those involved in the case only when courts and the prosecution service decide on the lawfulness of criminal proceedings. zel/df