Pellegrini Again Refrains from Signing Law on Whistleblowers Protection Office

Bratislava, 17 December (TASR) - Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has again decided not to sign the law aimed at changing the Whistleblowers Protection Office (UOO) into a new institution, TASR reported on Wednesday based on information published by the President's Office on its website. Nonetheless, the law will enter into force even without the president's signature. A new Crime Victims and Whistleblowers Protection Office will thus be set up in Slovakia, replacing the current UOO. In addition to handling whistleblower cases, it will take over the agenda of compensating victims of crime from the Justice Ministry. The legislation drafted by the Interior Ministry was approved by Parliament on Tuesday (9 December) via a fast-tracked legislative procedure. Pellegrini vetoed the law due to the lack of grounds for a fast-tracked legislative procedure, serious substantive concerns regarding insufficient protection of crime victims, and unresolved objections from the European Commission that may have consequences for Slovakia. MPs overrode Pellegrini's veto and reapproved the law on 12 December. The sponsor of the bill, the Interior Ministry, claimed that a single office would make it possible to protect people at risk immediately and in a coordinated manner, while the existing system is fragmented across multiple state bodies, thus reducing efficiency and weakening guarantees for victims of crimes and whistleblowers. Other changes are also being introduced by the law. Prosecutors or administrative bodies will be required to review constantly whether the qualified nature of the report based on which the decision to grant protection has been made still applies and whether the report has been made in good faith. The review will have to be carried out based on a submission from the protected whistleblower's employer. However, the submission will have to contain information directly related to assessing the qualified nature of the report and the protected whistleblower's actions in good faith. If the administrative body or prosecutor finds that the report doesn't meet these criteria, the decision granting protection may be revoked. The law should take effect as of 1 January, 2026. jrg/df