Harabin: Meciar Best Slovak Premier Ever, Crimea Wasn't Annexed

(Markiza, 'Na telo', February 10) Former premier Vladimir Meciar (1993-94, 1994-98) was the best prime minister thus far in the history of modern Slovakia, Supreme Court judge and presidential candidate Stefan Harabin stated on Markiza's political discussion programme 'Na telo' on Sunday. According to Harabin, Meciar is the architect of Slovak statehood, who never allowed state assets to be sold off to foreign privatisers. "In terms of the protection of state interests, he certainly was the one," Harabin expounded as to why he thinks Meciar was the best premier. Parliamentary Vice-chair Bela Bugar (Most-Hid), another presidential candidate on the show, pointed out that drafting and passing a declaration of independence is one thing and violating the law is another. "Meciar was violating (the law) all the time. Meciar's era saw the rise of ruthless Mafias; in Meciar's time they (mobsters) threw a grenade (into Bela Bugar's garden). Meciar fathered a wild privatisation in Slovakia. In (Mikulas) Dzurinda's first government (1998-2002), we actually had to address the fact that banks were offering (loans) at 24-percent interest because the privatisation "a la Meciar" had ruined them," retorted Bugar. Harabin stated that if any crimes were committed under the governments of Meciar and Dzurinda, it's necessary to investigate the misdeeds. "There are independent law enforcement bodies to do that, however," he underlined. In response, Bugar claimed that the assets privatised under Meciar are long gone. "All dead, stolen, with a few exceptions. What was privatised under Dzurinda, even when purchased back, still operates to this day," he claimed. The Supreme Court judge maintains that Crimea wasn't annexed and there can be no talk about any aggression or occupation. This didn't sit well with Bugar, who insisted that Crimea was unequivocally annexed, a stance also adopted by the entire EU. Harabin stated that he is running as an apolitical presidential candidate and holds talks with no political party. mf/mcs