SaS: Vote by 'Slovakia' MPs for Constitutional Changes Disgraceful

Bratislava, 26 September (TASR) – The votes submitted by several MPs from the 'Slovakia' party in favour of the government-sponsored constitutional amendment are a disgrace, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) leader Branislav Groehling declared on Friday after the vote in Parliament. Groehling pointed out that this isn't the first time that MPs from Igor Matovic's party have supported Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), which he claims is proof that cooperation with the party is not possible. "What happened overnight? What happened? Because yesterday we saw a press conference with Igor Matovic and his MPs saying: 'We won't vote for the constitutional amendment'. One night was all it took, one night, for the anti-corruption movement to change its mind. They changed their minds and supported the constitutional change with Robert Fico. Voters, please take note of this. Take note of the hypocrisy – they act like fighters, but they cooperate with Robert Fico," said Groehling. MP Maria Kolikova (SaS) warned that the constitutional changes could jeopardise EU funds for Slovakia and undermine its membership of the Council of Europe. "Perhaps someone now feels that their human dignity is better protected by this, but another section of society has lost that human dignity. Human dignity cannot be understood only in the way that Catholic or Protestant believers define it," she said. MP Jana Bitto Ciganikova added that Friday's approval of the amendment is the result of religious fanatics being elected to Parliament. "For me, it's incredibly sad, unbelievable, and it's truly harmed the lives of many people,” she said. She also stressed that she wasn't surprised at all that MPs from the 'Slovakia' party helped to pass the amendment. mf/df