PS Turns to Constitutional Court over Amendment to Information Act

Bratislava, January 27 (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party has turned to the Constitutional Court over an amendment to the Information Act, as it deems it might seriously interfere with people's fundamental rights and freedoms, MPs Lucia Plavakova and Zora Jaurova (both PS) told a news conference on Monday, adding that the party demands the effect of the law amendment should be suspended. "The amendment to the Information Act introduced a new term, the so-called exceptionally extensive search for information that will be charged, without specifying the charges. With this amendment, coalition MPs introduced into the Information Act a tool for absolute arbitrariness on the part of obligated entities, such as ministries, central public-administration bodies and local government. Anyone who requests information under the law on free access to information is thus exposed to legal uncertainty and the unpredictability of the actions of state authorities," noted Plavakova. Plavakova pointed out that the amendment doesn't specify when a search for information can be considered extensive or exceptionally extensive. An amendment to the law on free access to information should take effect as of March 1. It will be possible to charge for the provision of information through the Information Act. MPs for the coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) are behind the amendment. SNS pointed to long-standing issues in which obliged entities are overwhelmed by "frequent or excessive requests for disclosure of information". President Peter Pellegrini vetoed the amendment, but MPs broke his veto and re-approved it. The amendment will thus take effect even without the president's signature. ko/mcs