Susko: SNS Hasn't Consulted Justice Ministry on Extremism Bill

Bratislava, 14 January (TASR) – The coalition's SNS party hasn't consulted the Justice Ministry on the specific wording of a draft amendment to the Criminal Code dealing with penalties for extremism, Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) said ahead of Wednesday's away-from-home government session in the Bratislava district of Petrzalka. According to Susko, the amendment is a legislative initiative by MPs. "Every MP has that right. You cannot prevent anyone from doing so," he noted. The minister underlined that Smer-SD have always fought against extremism and in the past have submitted a number of proposals aimed at combating it. At the same time, he believes it is necessary to distinguish between extremism and freedom of expression and the dissemination of one's own ideas and opinions. "I assume the coalition will still discuss the matter and reach some conclusion. We are also analysing it from an international perspective," Susko said. A group of MPs from the coalition's SNS party has submitted an amendment to the Criminal Code to Parliament. Among other things, it proposes changes to sentencing ranges for extremist crimes, including lowering the upper limits for several offences. The MPs argued that sentencing should be set in a more rational and differentiated manner. SNS also wants to remove provisions on the production, distribution and possession of extremist material, arguing that this would eliminate legally uncertain regulation. They stressed that criminal law protection of so-called protected interests would remain preserved after the change. mf