Opposition Slams Coalition for Not Allowing Committee Debate on Fire Engines

Bratislava, 1 September (TASR) - Opposition MPs criticise the coalition for not allowing the House defence and security committee to hold a debate on the public procurement of fire engines, as the coalition MPs did not vote in favour of the session's agenda, TASR reported on the basis of statements from opposition MPs on Monday. "What we have been seeing since the governing coalition took over is that they are completely breaching the rules, laws, and even the Constitution," said the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party MP and committee member Juraj Krupa. "We have the right to ask questions and discuss matters about which we want to get information that is not being provided to us," he added. For instance, MPs wanted to know why only one vehicle had been delivered so far and why the invoice was issued before placing an order. "What is striking is that coalition MPs attended the committee session but did not vote in favour of the agenda. This means they are not curious whether purchases are carried out objectively, whether they are overpriced, or whether they are in the public interest,” noted opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) MP Jaroslav Spisiak. Former interior minister Roman Mikulec, an opposition MP for the 'Slovakia'-'For the People'-KU alliance, said that the opposition's questions remained unanswered and criticised incumbent Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) for his absence at the session. Mikulec reiterated his concerns about the public procurement process, noting that new vehicles have not been delivered to firefighters to date, while he does not believe they would receive them anytime soon. On Monday, the House defence and security committee did not discuss the procurement of 80 vehicles for the Fire and Rescue Corps, as the agenda of the extraordinary session initiated by opposition MPs was not approved, despite the committee being quorate. jrg