President's Veto Overriden, House Passes Law Transforming UOO into New Authority

Bratislava, 12 December (TASR) - MPs overrode President Peter Pellegrini's veto and reapproved a law transforming the Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO) into a new authority on Friday. A new Crime Victims and Whistleblowers Protection Office will thus be established in Slovakia, replacing the current UOO. In addition to handling whistleblower cases, it will also take over the agenda of compensating victims of crime from the Justice Ministry and review protection within criminal and administrative proceedings. The law should take effect as of 1 January, 2026. Pellegrini vetoed the bill transforming the UOO into a new authority on Thursday (11 December), citing the absence of grounds for fast-tracked legislative procedure, serious substantive concerns about insufficient protection for victims of crime and unresolved objections from the European Commission that could entail consequences for Slovakia. ko/df