Monitor: Ziga: New Head of House European Committee Could Be Known Next Week

(TA3,'V politike', 7 December) The name of the new head of the parliamentary committee for European affairs could be announced next week, Parliamentary Vice-chair Peter Ziga (Voice-SD) stated on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday, adding, however, that negotiations on filling this position are still ongoing within the coalition. Another House vice-chair, Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD), confirmed that Jan Ferencak (Voice-SD), who is currently being dismissed from his position as head of the European committee in Parliament, had been offered proposals for solutions if he leaves the post. However, according to Gaspar, Ferencak rejected them. Opposition MP Zuzana Stevulova (Progressive Slovakia/PS) stated in this regard that the ruling coalition is devoting all its energy to its own problems rather than the problems of the country. The discussion also touched on the issue of the draft law on transforming the Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO) into a new Office for the Protection of Crime Victims and Whistleblowers of Anti-social Conduct, which is currently being debated in the House. Gaspar claimed that the scrapping of UOO is a matter of fact for Smer-SD voters, while according to Stevulova, it isn't in Slovakia's interest. She also believes that the draft law is contrary to the Slovak Constitution and European Union law. Ziga and Stevulova also agreed that this bill has been debated in Parliament for too long. According to Ziga, UOO is dysfunctional, politically biased, and self-serving. However, he believes that it has been debated in Parliament for too long due to obstruction by the opposition. Christian Democrats (KDH) vice-chairman Viliam Karas noted that the scrapping of UOO lacks statesmanship and perspective. He also said that the rules of the fast-tracked legislative procedure had been violated. am