Premier: Nothing Changes in Terms of Whistleblowers' Protection

Bratislava, 23 November (TASR) - Nothing will change at the level of whistleblowers' protection, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said in a video he posted on a social network on Saturday (22 November). Fico reacted in this way to a bill approved by the government earlier on Saturday, which would establish a new central Office for Crime Victim and Whistleblower Protection. "We are just suggesting to change the structure of the office and to add additional powers in the area of ​​protecting crime victims to it," said Fico, adding that the cabinet met on Saturday, as they still need to get some bills to Parliament on Tuesday (25 November). "I won't be physically present here on Monday (24 November)," said the premier, specifying that he will leave for the European Union-Africa summit in Angola. Fico in the video said that he feels the nervousness on the part of his coalition partners. "I am trying to understand this nervousness in Voice-SD and in the Slovak National Party (SNS)," he said, adding that passivity in the political battle with the opposition is uselessly weakening the coalition. According to the premier, the governing coalition as a whole failed to use 17 November to "slap the opposition in the face". Fico also commented on Peter Kmec (Voice-SD), whom he proposed to dismiss from the post of Vice-premier for the Recovery Plan and the Knowledge-based Economy and whose resignation was accepted by President Peter Pellegrini earlier this week. "I'm not any political butcher. I check the facts before I make every serious personnel decision. I don't act based on the media pressure or a bubble, or to satisfy someone," stated Fico. He said that he'll act in the same way in case of Miroslav Lajcak and that the decision whether or not he ends in the post of the premier's advisor will be made on Wednesday (26 November). Concerning the infringement procedure launched by the European Commission against Slovakia in connection with the amendment to the Constitution, Fico reiterated that any compromise is out of the question. "Amendment to the Constitution on value issues is a condition for Slovakia's survival in a challenging geopolitical situation," said Fico. The premier views it as excellent news that all the parties concerned are seriously dealing with the US President Donald Trump's peace plan for the war in Ukraine. He also thanked Jana Valova (Smer-SD), who has given up her MP mandate, for her work. "Unfortunately, she's decided to abandon her political career due to serious personal reasons," Fico noted. ko