Whistleblower Protection Office Rejects Interference in Its Independence

Bratislava, 22 November (TASR) - The Whistleblower Protection Office (UOO) rejects political interference in its independence, Alexandra Znasikova of the UOO press department has told TASR in reaction to a bill approved by the government earlier on Saturday. According to UOO, the government is striving to remove its leadership through a purpose-made change, although it has no legal or substantive reason to do so. "With such interference, the government directly threatens the independence, stability and functionality of the system that is supposed to protect people reporting unlawful conduct at work. This move also undermines people's trust that the state is able to ensure a fair and safe environment for whistleblowers," stated Znasikova. UUO claims that the efforts to remove its chair Zuzana Dlugosova come after the office has imposed three fines and is deciding on a fourth sanction against the Interior Ministry led by Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) and has repeatedly warned about the negative impacts of the planned changes to the law. They also come shortly after the Bratislava Administrative Court and the Court of Justice of the EU confirmed the correctness of the office's procedures in the cases of protected police officers. UOO also pointed out that the draft law was submitted to the government by the interior minister, who is in an obvious conflict of interests. The office has also criticised the fast-track legislative procedure on the bill. UOO chair Dlugosova told a news conference later on Saturday that the office sees no reason for its application, either from the viewpoint of a threat to the state security, or from the viewpoint of an extraordinary event threatening the economy. At its special session on Saturday, the government approved setting up the new Crime Victim and Whistleblower Protection Office that should take over the agenda of the compensation of crime victims from the Justice Ministry and replace the current Whistleblower Protection Office. The government also passed fast-track proceedings for the bill sponsored by the Interior Ministry. The ministry justified the draft by the need respond to the biggest problems that stemmed from the application of the law so far, chiefly insufficient rights of an employer of a protected whistleblower and the unclear connection between a whistleblower and an employer in providing protection. The bill should also address the reduced effectiveness of institutional protection of crime victims and whistleblowers, which is currently divided among several state bodies. ko