KDH Won't Support Government's Amendment to Constitution at First Reading

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - MPs for the opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) won't support the government's amendment to the Constitution at its first reading, reiterating that its own proposal to amend the Constitution is better and should be supported instead, party representatives told a press conference on Tuesday. If the government's amendment makes it to its second reading, KDH will try to insert as many priorities as possible from its own proposal into it. The possible support of the Christian Democrats will depend on subsequent debates, but it is too early to talk about this for the time being. "We'll support our own proposal, that's why we submitted it, we think it's better, and we believe it will get support. We regret that today the coalition parties clearly declared that they won't support our proposal. KDH hereby also declares that it won't support the government's proposal, we think that our draft is better, is of better quality and has been better processed," said KDH vice-chair Viliam Karas. Party leader Milan Majersky added that KDH's proposal has seven points. "We'll try to put each one there [in the government's amendment if it passes to a second reading], and then we'll consider based on how the debate in Parliament and discussions within the opposition and, of course, the coalition, develop," added Majersky. The amendments to the Constitution submitted both by the government and KDH speak mainly about so-called cultural and ethical issues. KDH also wants the Constitution to stipulate that after the scrapping of the Special Prosecutor's Office, special departments will be created to fight terrorism, organised crime and corruption and that they will operate throughout Slovakia. am/df