Rasi: Opposition Demonstrates It Doesn't Wish to Debate, But Filibuster

Bratislava, 5 February (TASR) – The opposition is showing that it is not interested in expert discussion or substantive debate, but in artificial obstruction, House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) told TASR on Thursday. Rasi said this in response to opposition-sponsored motions to dismiss several ministers and to pass a no-confidence vote in the government. Parliament ended the debate on the dismissals at around 11.00 a.m., after which the proposers began delivering their final statements on the motions. So far, only the first proposer has completed his speech. "What we are seeing now, the aggressive and senseless stretching of the proposers' final remarks over entire hours, has nothing to do with parliamentary culture. I reject any criticism from the opposition. Even democratic obstruction must have its limits, and these MPs should finally realise where politics ends and responsibility towards the people begins," Rasi stated for TASR. The House Chair pointed out that Parliament is at the end of its second sitting week and the agenda still includes more than 140 items that have not been discussed. "These are real laws that affect the everyday lives of the people in Slovakia. There are dozens of MPs' bills, including opposition ones, and their discussion is directly blocked by this destructive behaviour," he noted. Rasi therefore asked the opposition MPs whether they really have to perform their mandate in this way. "By blocking the basic legislative function of Parliament, you are not harming the coalition but the people who are waiting for solutions to their problems," he added. According to Rasi, when Parliament will vote on the dismissals depends on the length of the final speeches by the proposers of the no-confidence motion against the government and individual ministers. Parliament ended the debate on the motions to dismiss individual ministers and the government at Rasi's proposal. More than 50 MPs were still registered in writing for the joint debate. The session began on Wednesday (4 February) after 5 p.m. After all motions were presented, the debate itself started before 10.00 p.m.. The opposition criticised the early termination of the debate, saying it showed a lack of respect for democratic rules. mf