Rasi: Parliament Must Be a Forum for Dialogue, Not Confrontation

Bratislava, 3 August (TASR) – House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice–SD) has told TASR that he does not want to merely serve as a caretaker or manager of Parliament, but has a clear vision which he's been working on since taking office. One of his key goals is to cultivate more civil discourse in Parliament and emphasise parliamentary diplomacy. „We all feel how deeply divided our society is, and I am convinced that change must start here, in Parliament. My absolute priority is to restore decency, factual dialogue, and mutual respect to the chamber. That means zero tolerance for personal hatred, insults, and any expression of extremism. Parliament must be a forum for discussion, not confrontation," he told TASR. Rasi welcomed the fact that the most recent parliamentary session, which he chaired, was held without significant issues. He also announced that he wants to focus on the quality of legislation. „I will continue to exert maximum pressure to ensure we do not adopt hastily prepared proposals, but that every law undergoes an honest expert discussion and a real assessment of its impact on people's lives," he added. He expressed ambition to make Parliament a place that supports a professional legislative process, mentioning, for instance, more frequent use of the parliamentary institute. Another part of his vision includes a clear direction for Slovakia and its citizens. He said laws passed by Parliament should not be just numbers in spreadsheets, but should tangibly improve people's quality of life. Rasi also highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy. He aims to strengthen partnerships and exchange experiences, presenting Slovakia as a modern and reliable partner that can also defend its positions. „The European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) are our living space, our civilisational and security anchors. That does not change. However, this does not mean we should not actively and proudly promote our national interests," he concluded. mf