Current:Home > FinanceThousands rally in Slovakia to condemn the new government’s plan to close top prosecutors’ office-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Thousands rally in Slovakia to condemn the new government’s plan to close top prosecutors’ office
View Date:2024-12-23 23:50:57
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Thousands rallied in the capital and other major cities in Slovakia on Tuesday to denounce a plan by the new government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico to amend the country’s penal code.
The changes proposed by the coalition government include a proposal to abolish the special prosecutors’ office, which handles serious crimes such as graft, organized crime and extremism, by mid-January, and return those prosecutions to regional offices, which haven’t dealt with such crimes for 20 years.
The noisy but peaceful crowd in Bratislava gathered in front of the government office in a rally organized by several opposition parties, including Progressive Slovakia, the Christian Democrats and Freedom and Solidarity.
”We’ll defend our democracy,” said Michal Simecka, the head of the liberal Progressive Slovakia, the strongest opposition party. Simecka called the proposals “a pro-mafia package.”
“We’ve had enough of Fico,” the people chanted.
Smaller rallies took place in the cities of Kosice, Nitra, Zilina, Banska Bystrica and Poprad.
Richard Sulik, the head of the pro-business Freedom and Solidarity, said that around 1,000 unfinished cases are currently investigated by the special prosecution.
“The proposed changes have a potential to disrupt our legal system,” Sulik said.
President Zuzana Caputova said Friday that the changes go, in her opinion, against the rule of law, and noted that the European Commission also has expressed concerns that the measure is being rushed through.
The legislation approved by Fico’s government on Wednesday needs parliamentary and presidential approval. The three-party coalition has a majority in parliament.
Parliament could start a debate over the plan on Tuesday.
Fico returned to power for the fourth time after his scandal-tainted leftist party won Slovakia’s Sept. 30 parliamentary election on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform.
His critics worry that his return could lead Slovakia to abandon its pro-Western course and instead follow the direction of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Since Fico’s government came to power, some elite investigators and police officials who deal with top corruption cases have been dismissed or furloughed. The planned changes in the legal system also include a reduction in punishments for corruption.
Under the previous government, which came to power in 2020 after campaigning on an anti-corruption ticket, dozens of senior officials, police officers, judges, prosecutors, politicians and businesspeople linked to Fico’s party have been charged and convicted of corruption and other crimes.
veryGood! (711)
Related
- Martin Scorsese on faith in filmmaking, ‘The Saints’ and what his next movie might be
- California governor vetoes bill to make immigrants without legal status eligible for home loans
- House case: It's not men vs. women, it's the NCAA vs. the free market
- A new tarantula species is discovered in Arizona: What to know about the creepy crawler
- Glen Powell responds to rumor that he could replace Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible'
- A new tarantula species is discovered in Arizona: What to know about the creepy crawler
- Why Lady Gaga Hasn't Smoked Weed in Years
- Why the Eagles are not wearing green in Brazil game vs. Packers
- Elon Musk responds after Chloe Fineman alleges he made her 'burst into tears' on 'SNL'
- Mbappé could face a hostile home crowd when France hosts Italy in the Nations League
Ranking
- A crowd of strangers brought 613 cakes and then set out to eat them
- 'A great day for Red Lobster': Company exiting bankruptcy, will operate 544 locations
- Shackled before grieving relatives, father, son face judge in Georgia school shooting
- Bachelorette’s Jonathon Johnson Teases Reunion With Jenn Tran After Devin Strader Drama
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign chancellor to step down at end of academic year
- Check Out Lululemon's Latest We Made Too Much Drops, Including $59 Align Leggings & $68 Bodysuit for $29
- Olympian Tara Davis-Woodhall Reacts to Husband Hunter Woodhall's Gold Medal Win at Paris Paralympic Games
- Democratic primary for governor highlights Tuesday’s elections in Delaware
Recommendation
-
Suspect in deadly 2023 Atlanta shooting is deemed not competent to stand trial
-
Appeals court upholds conviction of former Capitol police officer who tried to help rioter
-
Kourtney Kardashian Shares Sweet Family Photos of Sons Rocky and Reign
-
Saying goodbye to 'Power Book II': How it went from spinoff to 'legendary' status
-
What does the top five look like and other questions facing the College Football Playoff committee
-
Parents sue Boy Scouts of America for $10M after jet ski accident kills 10-year-old boy
-
Jessica Pegula will meet Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open women’s final Saturday
-
Forced to choose how to die, South Carolina inmate lets lawyer pick lethal injection