House Committee Initiates Proceedings Against Kalinak and Remisova

Bratislava, April 1 (TASR) - The House Conflict of Interest Committee turned down complaints against Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) on Tuesday, while initiating proceedings against Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) and Committee chair Veronika Remisova ('Slovakia'-For the People-KU). According to Pavol Goga (Smer-SD), the first two complaints didn't meet legal requirements and were rooted in nothing but media reports. Remisova finds such conclusion of the committee a display of double standards. "The complaint against Sutaj Estok concerned suspicions of accepting a gift or a conflict of interest on his part, whereas the complaint against Robert Fico aimed to shed light into his trip to Vietnam, to find out how he paid for the trip, whether it was him or someone else," Remisova told the journalists. She maintains that these were "regular" complaints that are a commonplace agenda of the committee. Remisova faces proceedings as the coalition believes she violated the law when she used confidential property-declaration information about Kalinak's wife to political ends. The complaint in Kalinak's case revolves around Kalinak's failure to include his wife's villa in Croatia in his property declaration in order allegedly to "protect his family". Head of Smer-SD caucus Jan Richter reiterated that if it turns out Remisova breached the law, the coalition will table a motion to dismiss her from her post. Remisova might face a fine worth twelve average salaries, whereas Kalinak can receive a fine worth three average salaries. The final decision is up to the governing coalition, which commands the majority of votes in the committee. mf