KDH Calls on Sutaj Estok to Assume Political Responsibility Due to UOO Fine

Bratislava, October 25 (TASR) - The Christian Democrats (KDH) have requested Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) to assume political responsibility due to the fine imposed on the Interior Ministry by the Office for Protection of Whistleblowers (UOO), TASR was told by KDH spokesperson Lenka Kovar on Friday. MP Martina Holeckova (Independent) thinks that the minister should pay the €90,000 fine from his own money. "The Interior Ministry is still dealing with the past and still dealing with revenge. This is indicated by the fact that the ministry will have to pay €90,000 for suspending police officers. The Interior Ministry must finally start bringing systemic changes and acutely address the announced departures of police officers and ensure new ones will come," said MP Frantisek Majersky (KDH), adding that the security situation in Slovakia is deteriorating and the government is doing nothing to stabilise it. Holeckova stressed in her statement that she had warned the minister a year ago that he was breaking the law. She said that Sutaj Estok didn't listen to her or other opposition politicians and suspended investigators without the approval of the UOO. "The interior minister didn't suspend them over professional reasons, but only as a sign of revenge, as these investigators dared to investigate corruption at the highest levels and prosecute even previously untouchable politicians and businessmen," emphasised Holeckova. Shortly after taking over the Interior Ministry, Matus Sutaj Estok suspended the police officers due to charges pressed against them, despite the fact that they had the status of protected whistleblowers. In initial administrative proceedings, UOO decided that the Interior Ministry violated the law and imposed a fine of €90,000. The ministry appealed against the decision, claiming that the UOO applied an incorrect legal assessment of the matter. As part of the process of appeal, the UOO confirmed that the Interior Ministry violated the law when it didn't consult the UOO before suspending ten police officers centred around Jan Curilla. The ministry has already announced it will file an administrative appeal against the decision. am/mcs