PS: If Fico Attempts to Defang USP, We Reach Out to Constitutional Court

Bratislava, December 4 (TASR) - Progressive Slovakia (PS) plans to file a constitutional complaint over the Government's plan to abolish or restrict the Special Prosecutor's Office (USP), PS chair and parliamentary vice-chair Michal Simecka announced on Monday. PS also asked for a meeting with European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders regarding the matter. The party maintains that the only reason behind the change is the effort to protect "our people" on part of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD). "Despite our calls, the public is still kept in the dark as to the specifics of the proposal, which he [Fico] presented to the European Commission. The Government continues to prepare the dismantling of the rule of law in silence. It is scandalous and dangerous. Hence, the moment it becomes certain that they pushed such an interference with USP through a fast-tracked procedure, we'll file a complaint with the Constitutional Court," said Simecka. He warned that without the Special Prosecutor's Office, there would be no way to prosecute organised crime and corruption in the upper echelons of the state effectively. PS vice-chair Lucia Plavakova added that the party will ask the Constitutional Court to look into the matter and assess whether the proposal is in accordance with the principle of ensuring the protection of the rule of law guaranteed by the Constitution. "At the same time, we'll ask the court to suspend the effects of the change, so as to prevent the serious and irreversible damage this would cause, as Robert Fico has really pulled out all the stops in his effort to protect Smer people. He intends to dismantle the essentials of the fight against corruption and organised crime, and that needs to be stopped with every means available," she said. mf