BRATISLAVA, Slovakia: Slovakia’s populist government on Thursday won a majority in favour of controversial criminal code reform amid sharp criticism, particularly from the European Union, as the opposition boycotted the vote.
The changes, which have sparked a wave of anti-government protests, include easing penalties for corruption and economic offenses in EU and NATO countries with 5.4 million.
The vote took place with the support of 78 ruling coalition lawmakers in the 150-seat chamber, while the opposition sat out the exercise.
The vote went through an expedited legislative process, a move that drew condemnation from the president and the entire opposition.
After criticism, the government watered down its original bill and proposed higher penalties for some crimes, but the move failed to silence critics dismayed by, for example, cutting the statute of limitations from 20 years to 10 years for some crimes, including rape.
From March 20, the legislation will also hand prosecutor general Maros Zilinka extended powers.
Liberal leader Zuzana Caputova slammed the new law.
“The adoption of the amendment to the Criminal Code is bad news for Slovakia and all its citizens,” Caputova said in a statement.
“It is unacceptable that such serious changes in the state’s criminal policy take place without a proper legislative process,” she said.
“I’m going to look at every possible option … to prevent this bill from going into effect.”
Even so, a presidential veto can be overturned by a simple parliamentary majority.
The opposition is particularly angered by the overhaul package, including plans to scrap a specialist prosecutor’s office that oversees high-level corruption cases, which the coalition says is being treated unfairly.
The opposition claims that populist Prime Minister Robert Fico intends to favour businessmen and oligarchs with close ties to his Smer-SD party, threatened by an investigation into their wrongdoing.
Thursday’s demonstrations in 15 cities across the country drew thousands of people against the law.
European Union officials also condemned the reform plans last month, urging the government not to implement reforms for now and to fast-track “without proper and thorough consultation with stakeholders”.
The issue is expected to influence the outcome of the upcoming presidential election scheduled for March.
A total of ten candidates are running for president in Slovakia, the first round will be held on March 23.
If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the ballots, a runoff will be held on April 6.
