President Signs Defence Law Introducing Active Reserves Reform and Gendarmerie

Bratislava, 12 June (TASR) - President Peter Pellegrini on Thursday signed into law measures proposed by the Defence Ministry that are aimed at strengthening Slovakia's defence and security, including changes to the active reserves, which will now replace the National Defence Forces, and the setting up of a gendarmerie to assist the police in maintaining public order. "The draft law regulates a new process for enrolling registered citizens, active members of the armed security forces, armed forces, rescue units, public officials and soldiers from other reserves into various components of the National Defence Forces. Considering the tasks they are to perform, the conditions for inclusion in operational reserves, standby reserves and territorial reserves are specifically regulated, with a fundamental voluntary principle governing the entire enrolment process," the document states. Training and task fulfillment by soldiers in the operational or standby reserves will last 20 days according to the document, followed by ten days on alert, with soldiers receiving a payment of €3,000 for completing the full period. Soldiers in the territorial reserves must participate in training and tasks for at least 14 days to receive half of the payment. The legislative proposal also regulates the setting up of a so-called gendarmerie, which is intended to assist the police in maintaining public order. Its members may include soldiers as well as current or former police officers. The gendarmes will have similar powers to the Police Corps, with the new legislation regulating their uniforms, the use of coercive measures, and the ability to detain individuals. However, they will be subordinate to the Police Corps. Gendarmes will receive a payment of €3,000 for 20 days of service, with a maximum of 12 hours per day. An amendment proposed by MP Richard Gluck (Smer-SD) also led to changes to their uniforms being included in the final version of the new law, which will come into effect on 1 July. lin/df