Sutaj Estok: Interior Ministry Won't Pursue Revenge Nor Act on Political Orders

Bratislava, 13 December (TASR) - The Interior Ministry will neither pursue revenge nor act on political orders, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) responded on social media to Prime Minister and Smer-SD leader Robert Fico's statements on Saturday regarding the need for faster investigation of crimes from 2020-23. Sutaj Estok understands that the public is impatient and Fico feels that pressure; however, justice isn't delivered by shouting or via messages through the media. "My task is to ensure that the police and investigators work in a professional and lawful manner, without any interference. And that's exactly what we're doing. Unlike in the years 2020 to 2023, when the Interior Ministry became a tool of political struggle," stated Sutaj Estok. If there are any sensitive criminal cases that are stalled, it's not the Interior Ministry's responsibility, stated Sutaj Estok, adding that "even the prime minister definitely knows that criminal proceedings are subject to certain rules and phases, with the powers clearly divided among the individual law enforcement bodies". At the same time, Sutaj Estok warned that the opposition benefits from quarrels between the coalition parties. "The coalition will not survive if we publicly attack each other. By doing so, we're weakening the government and strengthening the opposition," he stated, stressing that people are not interested in political feuds. They are concerned about food prices, security, transport or recurring railway tragedies, added Sutaj Estok. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues) that he wants to step up pressure on Sutaj Estok due to many voters being dissatisfied with the ministry and investigators not acting faster in uncovering the crimes from the period between 2020 and 2023. According to him, the results must be delivered and there's a lot of evidence sitting on the table and waiting to be processed and presented in a lawful manner. jrg