SaS Calls on Coalition to Withdrawal Bill Labelling NGOs as Lobbyists

Bratislava, November 27 (TASR) - Opposition's SaS called on the governing coalition to withdraw the bill that redefines NGOs as lobbyists and warned that such a legislation would restrict the right of association and civic society, MP Ondrej Dostal (SaS) declared at a press conference on Wednesday. "When the governing coalition discovered that it can't label NGOs as foreign agents, it came up with an alternate proposal to label them as lobbyists. Non-profit NGOs, attempting to influence policies of public bodies and politicians, will need to register as lobbyists and provide reports on their activities, including detailed information on who they meet with," claimed Dostal. He added that even though the topic of lobbyism is legitimate, a comprehensive legislation is needed to address it. "Optimally in the form of Government-sponsored bill that goes through comments and not as an MP amendment attached to another unrelated bill." mf