Time Will Test Zurian as Inspectorate Head, Gaspar and Spisiak Concur

Bratislava, November 3 (TASR) - Time will test the selection of Branislav Zurian as the new head of the Interior Ministry Inspectorate, Smer-SD MP Tibor Gaspar and Progressive Slovakia MP Jaroslav Spissiak - two former police chiefs - concurred on television channel Joj's politics show 'On the Edge' on Thursday night. Gaspar, incumbent head of the parliamentary defence and security committee, opined that Zurian is an experienced police officer and has all the professional qualifications for the post. "Let's give him space to prove that he'll manage the department well," he said. Spisiak, a member of the same parliamentary committee, stated that he doesn't consider it important to present his personal opinion on Zurian's appointment. "What will be important is to observe whether he'll act as he promised at the hearing before the defence and security committee, whether he'll comply with the law, how he'll behave towards police officers," stressed Spisiak. Another guest on the show, Freedom and Solidarity MP Juraj Krupa, who's also a member of the parliamentary committee, expressed his concern that Zurian's appointment will trigger further tensions within the police. Furthermore, the MP pointed to a possible conflict of interests, as Zurian was charged with a crime currently being investigated by the Inspectorate, which he's now set to manage. Krupa also reproached Zurian for "hiding" in Belarus recently and for the fact that he lacks security clearance. "Is it certain that he'll obtain this?" he asked. zel/df