Opposition Criticises UOO's Scrapping, Calls It Kidnapping of Rule of Law

Bratislava, 22 November (TASR) - Opposition parties have criticised scrapping of the Whistleblower Protection Office (UOO) and its replacement with a new institution, talking about the further weakening and kidnapping of the rule of law in Slovakia and an attempt to take control of an independent institution at a time when it imposed several fines on the Interior Ministry for its unlawful conduct. The Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party told a news conference on Saturday that UOO is one of the key institutions in the fight against corruption, which also protects whistleblowers. According to the party, the government wants to take control of the institution, including its leadership. "Who will now turn to the office believing that it will protect them? All the data on whistleblowers available to the office will now be provided to this governing coalition, along with all sensitive data, including on cases that the office was yet to decide on," said SaS vice-chair Maria Kolikova. MP Ondrej Dostal (SaS) recalled that the government had already used a similar way of scrapping institutions when changing public-service broadcaster RTVS into STVR. "They scrap one institution, replacing it with another, almost identical one, install their own people in it, thus taking a political control of it, and the new institution then fully serves the intentions of the current government," stated Dostal. According to the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), the government continues to take steps that weaken the rule of law and reduce the security of citizens. It pointed out the fact that UOO imposed three fines on the Interior Ministry for its unlawful actions against the so-called 'Curilla group' and repeatedly succeeded in challenging its decisions. "The minister corrects his mistakes by making more. He is scrapping offices that were functioning, spending money on new projects without any logic and dismantling mechanisms that were supposed to keep order in the state," said KDH leader Milan Majersky. Progressive Slovakia (PS) views UOO's scrapping and the creation of the new office as a demonstration of revenge against the institution and its management. "This is the only way they are able to remove the chairperson of the office, whose term in office would otherwise end in 2028. They won't only have a new office, but that they will also install their nominee there for seven years, who will again be irremovable by the next government," said MP Zuzana Stevulova (PS). The government approved UOO's replacement with a new Office for Crime Victim and Whistleblower Protection at its special session on Saturday. It also passed fast-track proceedings for the bill sponsored by the Interior Ministry. The law should enter into force on the day of its announcement. ko