Fico: Smer-SD and SNS to File Motion to Oust Simecka on Thursday (2)

Bratislava, September 3 (TASR) - A group of coalition lawmakers will file a proposal on Thursday (September 5) to oust opposition's Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka from the post of the House Vice-chair, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) announced at a press conference on Tuesday. The proposal was signed by lawmakers of Smer-SD and SNS. Fico has repeatedly criticised Simecka over the fact that foundations linked to his family relatives, such as Simecka's uncle, mother and partner, have received subsidies from the state. In this context, Fico also stated that an audit launched by the Justice Ministry confirmed violations of the law regarding subsidies in the field of human rights. The special session of the House needs to be convened within seven days from the proposal being lodged. The motion will be submitted by MP Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD). The Prime Minister didn't reveal or comment on the stance of the remaining coalition's Voice-SD party. Fico also blames Simecka for misusing public protests to stir up enmity against the Justice Minister and the Culture Minister, who are in charge of government portfolios in which Simecka's family is "losing its financing". The Prime Minister rejected opposition claims that his own family benefits from state subsidies and finds the attack against his wife ridiculous, seeing as she was responsible for a project of the Judicial Academy. Fico responded also to the statement of MP Martina Holeckova (KDH) that a firm called Agentura Smer, s.r.o., in which his son serves as an executive, received a subsidy from the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Job Centre this year. "Smer-SD has its own agency called Agentura Smer. It has been applying for subsidies on the so-called 'protected workplace' with relevant authorities since 2013," said Fico and added that anyone who employs a person with a health disability is free to apply for the state subsidies. Fico also rejected Simecka's claim that Fico's cousin Rastislav Rybansky had received more than one million euros worth of subsidies in 2009 to restore Topolcany Castle. "The castle belongs to a specific village, hence it was the village that has renovated its property," he said. mf/mcs