Plenary Concludes Session with Discussion on So-called COVID Amnesties

Bratislava, April 2 (TASR) - MPs discussed the government's proposed law on compensation for individuals affected by pandemic measures at the end of Wednesday's session, which would allow those fined for violating COVID-19 measures or who had to pay for meals in state quarantine to seek compensation. The proposal was presented in the plenary session on Wednesday morning by Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD). The opposition disagreed with the proposal and has submitted several amendments. The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party, for example, wants to remove the "COVID amnesty for people who violated anti-pandemic measures" from the proposal. The 'Slovakia' party, on the other hand, proposed that the state pay €5,000 to each surviving family of victims who died due to the spread of COVID-19. Several opposition representatives also criticised some current coalition members for encouraging people to oppose COVID-19 measures when they were in the opposition during the pandemic. The Interior Minister rejected the opposition's criticism. During the debate he criticised the management of the COVID-19 pandemic by members of the former government under Igor Matovic ('Slovakia'). Lawmakers will return to their seats again on Thursday (April 3). lin