PS Urges Fico to Demand Greater Show of Respect From Simkovicova Towards House

Bratislava, August 19 (TASR) - Representatives of Progressive Slovakia called on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to demand a greater show of respect from Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (SNS nominee) towards Parliament and its Chamber for Culture and Media, accusing Simkovicova of holding the House in open contempt. "Ever since taking over her post, the minister has been ignoring committee sessions to a significant extent. Out of seven sessions, she attended only three, and even then had her state secretary and ministerial clerks answer questions from legislators on her behalf," wrote Committee vice-chair Zora Jaurova (PS) and PS caucus chair Martin Dubeci in an open letter. At other sessions, Simkovicova had either Culture Ministry state secretary Tibor Bernatak (SNS) stand in for her without the committee's permission or didn't even excuse or explain her absence. "We perceive such conduct by the minister as a gross violation of the Act on the Rules of Parliamentary Procedures and an egregious display of contempt towards Parliament and its supervisory role over the Government," reads the letter, adding that Government members are obligated to attend committee sessions when summoned. The letter signatories point out that the need to observe the law and respect for bodies of public power are basic prerequisites for the functioning rule of law and parliamentary democracy. mf