Smer and Voice Call on Opposition to Condemn Behaviour of Igor Matovic in House

Bratislava, 12 December (TASR) – The parliamentary caucuses of Smer-SD and Voice-SD have condemned the behaviour of MP and leader of the 'Slovakia' party Igor Matovic and other opposition members in Parliament on Thursday (11 December), pointing to what they called vulgar and aggressive attacks by Matovic against female coalition MPs, representatives of the Smer-SD and Voice-SD caucuses stated at a press conference on Friday. Smer-SD and Voice-SD criticised other opposition members for failing to condemn Matovic's actions or to intervene, and they urged them to denounce the incident. They also announced that they will submit complaints to the House mandate and immunity committee, and they intend to raise the issue of psychological fitness for holding the office of MP. "All the conflict on Thursday, everything that happened in Parliament, was started by Igor Matovic, who has definitively begun to see himself in the role of the new opposition leader. Unfortunately, the whole conflict, which began with displays of aggression towards women, took place against the background of chanting by the entire opposition – Progressive Slovakia, the Christian Democratic Movement and Freedom and Solidarity. While he attacked the women, they were chanting," said House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD), who questioned why opposition leaders have not condemned the incident and have remained silent. MPs Zuzana Matejickova (Smer-SD), Zuzana Plevikova (Smer-SD), Paula Puskarova (Voice-SD) and Zdenka Macicova (Voice-SD) spoke about Thursday's incident, highlighting profanities allegedly directed at them by Matovic. Plevikova also claimed that Matovic pushed her after she attempted to snatch a banner from him, the wording of which she described as misleading. The MPs said they will submit complaints to the mandate and immunity committee. Rasi also announced that at its next session, scheduled to begin on 27 January, Parliament will immediately address amendments to the Rules of Procedure in response to the incident. "We'll deal with such people who in other countries might never again be able to remain on the political scene after such statements," he added. According to him, Thursday's incident raises a legitimate question regarding the psychological fitness required to serve as an MP. On Thursday evening, Parliament approved an amendment to the Criminal Code, including several changes added during committee discussions earlier that day. During the vote, opposition MPs chanted "shame" and blew whistles in protest. A physical altercation also broke out between several coalition and opposition lawmakers. mf/df