President Won't Sign Law on Transforming UOO Even after Veto Overridden

Bratislava, 12 December (TASR) - President Peter Pellegrini has said in a video posted on a social network that he won't sign the law on transforming the Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO) into a new authority even after his veto was overridden by Parliament on Friday. "I'm determined that even after the veto has been overridden, I will not sign the law on scrapping UOO for reasons that still persist," stated the president. Pellegrini stressed that his decision is not and won't be guided by the wishes or expectations of the coalition or opposition. "I will be guided by legal and democratic principles and by building a reputation for Slovakia that will inspire respect among partners in international institutions," he said. At the same time, he strongly condemned the "gladiator arena" and "uncultural spectacle" that accompanied the approval of the amendment to the Penal Code in Parliament on Thursday. "One of our key institutions has suffered moral wounds that have eroded trust among Slovak citizens," he warned. He rejects the legitimisation of violence by higher moral principles. "That negates the moral principle itself," he said. He also doesn't accept trivialising what happened by pointing to similar cases abroad. Concerned about an escalation and incitement of verbal and physical violence, he called for a return to a rational political dialogue. ko/df