Opposition: Fico Fearmongers and Attempts to Hide Own Failures (2)

Bratislava, January 22 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is attempting to scare people with conspiracy theories in order to distract attention away from his own failures, believes opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS), whereas Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) is convinced that Fico is afraid of the citizens freely expressing their opinion. The opposition parties responded this way to the fact that Slovakia's Security Council is to be convened over a report of the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS), which implies that the opposition is attempting to stage a coup in Slovakia in cahoots with foreign actors. Opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) asked President Peter Pellegrini to invite representatives of opposition political parties to the Presidential Palace after the session of the Security Council and inform them about its outcome. "Robert Fico continues to spread hoaxes. He's misusing the secret services to this end, with a view towards silencing the opposition and diverting attention away from his failures, which have piled up over the 14 years of his governments - the collapsing health care, bridges in severe states of disrepair and economic decline. Slovakia deserves a prime minister who will start dealing with the problems of the people, instead of one holding paranoid press conferences," said PS chair Michal Simecka. SaS leader Branislav Groehling believes that the Prime Minister is scared. "He's fearmongering about 'Maidan', convening the Security Council, spinning ridiculous conspiracy theories that won't be believed even in the most hole-in-the-wall pub. That's because Fico has fearmongered about so much nonsense in the past and not one of it has ever come true. In reality, the civic protests had a peaceful course. The people were singing the anthem. They rejected Fico's hateful brand of politics and his kowtowing to Russia. And that's what Fico is afraid of. He's afraid of the truth and the prospect of the citizens freely voicing their opinion," he claimed, calling Fico's statements an insult of the people, but, at the same time, a perfect invitation to civic protests. KDH vice-chair Viliam Karas finds it unacceptable to have the coalition inform public about the SIS report only in tiny parts and without the opposition being allowed to learn about the threats of a coup that the Prime Minister talks about. "KDH calls on the President to convene representatives of the opposition parties to the Presidential Palace immediately after the session of the Security Council. It's in the interest of Slovakia," he said. mf/mcs