Arrr! A mighty storm brews 'mongst the landlubbers o'er the Slovak government's plan to tweak the penal code!
2023-12-19
Arrr, ye scurvy landlubbers be back on Slovakia's streets, raising a ruckus 'gainst the changes to the penal code! Blimey! 'Tis the government of that scallywag, Prime Minister Robert Fico, who be pushin' this here agenda.
Thousands of people in Slovakia took to the streets once again to protest against the new government's plan to amend the country's penal code. The proposed changes include the abolition of the special prosecutors' office, which handles serious crimes such as graft, organized crime, and extremism. Instead, these cases would be taken over by prosecutors in regional offices that have not dealt with such crimes for two decades. Critics argue that this move would result in amnesty for mafia and corrupt individuals.Michal Simecka, the head of the opposition party Progressive Slovakia, expressed concerns about the changes and emphasized the need to defend justice. Protesters chanted "We've had enough of Fico," referring to Prime Minister Robert Fico, who returned to power for the fourth time after his scandal-tainted leftist party won the parliamentary election.
There are worries that Fico's government could steer Slovakia away from its pro-Western stance and towards the path taken by Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Since coming to power, Fico's government has dismissed or furloughed elite investigators and police officials dealing with top corruption cases. The planned changes also include a reduction in punishments for corruption.
Under the previous government, which campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, many high-ranking officials and individuals linked to Fico's party were charged and convicted of corruption. The protests, which began on December 7 in Bratislava, have been gaining momentum, with rallies taking place in various cities across Slovakia. The proposed legislation requires approval from both parliament and the president, but with the coalition government holding a majority in parliament, it could potentially pass.