SaS Hails Constitutional Court Ruling as Small Victory Against Corruption

Bratislava, 17 December (TASR) – Opposition's Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party considers the decision by the Constitutional Court to suspend the effects of the legislation transforming the Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers (UOO) into a new office an important signal and a small victory for the rule of law over the "mafia" and its arrogance, TASR learnt from SaS's press department on Wednesday. In its response, SaS stated that the UOO forms one of the foundations in the fight against corruption. "Its liquidation would mean intimidating people who have the courage to report wrongdoing," said SaS chair Branislav Groehling. According to SaS MP Maria Kolikova, the decision is preliminary but very important for Slovakia. "This ruling by the Constitutional Court is significant for the fight against corruption, where an independent office plays its crucial role," she added. Earlier in the day, the Constitutional Court suspended the law's effectiveness at a closed-door session. It accepted in full a petition by a group of opposition members of Parliament for further proceedings. In their filing, the opposition argues a possible conflict between the legislation and the Constitution as well as European Union law, and also challenges the process of its adoption under a fast-tracked legislative procedure. MPs criticise, for example, the shortening of the term of office of the duly elected head of the Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers, as well as changes related to granting and reviewing whistleblower protection. The petition to the Constitutional Court was also supported by Public Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky, who fears irreversible interference with fundamental rights and freedoms. He sees the main problem in a provision allowing previously granted whistleblower protection to be reviewed at any time, which he says introduces unpredictability into the system. mf