KDH: Removing Simecka Denial of Principles of Parliamentary Democracy

Bratislava, August 18 (TASR) - To remove Michal Simecka (Progressive Slovakia/PS) from the House vice-chair post for expressing his political opinion would be a denial of the principles of parliamentary democracy on which the Slovak Republic has been built, stated the opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) in reaction to Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) statement regarding the proposal to dismiss Simecka. KDH noted that the Slovak democratic tradition also includes proper representation of the opposition in the parliament's leadership. "Just like Robert Fico, Michal Simecka gained his political mandate in a democratic election and was duly elected as the House vice-chair. Dismissing him for expressing a political opinion would be a denial of the democratic principles of parliamentary democracy," KDH has posted on a social network. KDH pointed to the fact that similarly to representatives of the governing parties, representatives of the opposition also represent the political opinions of a part of citizens of the Slovak Republic. "We claim this although we disagree with our political opponents across the political spectrum on many programme issues," stated KDH. Opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) leader Branislav Groehling pointed to the merger of the no-confidence motion in Simecka with the one in Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee). "It's impossible. The parliamentary Rules of Procedure don't allow for such a merger," stated Groehling, adding that they still insist on the dismissal of Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) as well. The premier on Friday (August 16) announced that he will propose dismissing Simecka from his post as the House vice-chair to the coalition. Fico reproached him for convening anti-government protests and inciting the public. At the same time, he criticised Simecka in connection with the use of subsidies from the FPU by the Milan Simecka Foundation, named after PS leader's late grandfather, which was pointed to by Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (an SNS nominee). The leaders of the governing SNS Andrej Danko and Voice-SD Matus Sutaj Estok also drew attention to the drawing of state money by the foundation. PS leader Michal Simecka thinks that the only reason for his potential dismissal as House vice-chair is revenge for his good opposition work. He views this as an unprecedented attack on the political opposition and democratic principles in the spirit of the harshest times of the era of ex-premier Vladimir Meciar. ko