KDH Welcomes Court's Decision that NGO Act Amendment Is Unconstitutional

Bratislava, 18 December (TASR) - The Christian Democrats (KDH) welcome the Constitutional Court's decision that the amendment to the law on non-profit organisations is not in line with the Constitution, the party's communications department told TASR on Thursday, adding that in KDH's opinion the Constitutional Court agreed with the arguments that opposition MPs and ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky had raised from the outset. "We've pointed out from the beginning that this involves disproportionate interference in the functioning of the non-profit sector and civil society, limits its participation in public life, and also creates disproportionately difficult conditions for donors, contributors and volunteers," said MP and KDH vice-chair Marian Caucik. Hundreds of thousands of people in Slovakia are involved in non-governmental non-profit organisations, performing public service activities that the state is often unable to provide itself. "The state should value and support this work, not put obstacles in its way and throw a spanner in the works. I'm convinced that this law can't be amended in the House and should expire after six months," stated Caucik. The law amending legislation on NGOs providing generally beneficial services is internally contradictory and therefore inappropriate, the Constitutional Court has stated in connection with Wednesday's (17 December) decision that the amendment contradicts constitutional articles concerning fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as political rights. It found that the disclosure of information about contributors and the amounts of their contributions disproportionately interferes with their right to privacy. am/df