Opposition MPs Lambast Coalition for Changes to Plenary Timetable

Bratislava, 13 February (TASR) - Following the adjournment of Parliament's 46th session on Friday, opposition parties have criticised the changes to the timetable, expressing concerns that coalition MPs have in fact granted themselves a two-month holiday and won't even attend the ongoing session slated to continue in March, TASR reported on Friday. "I have to say that holidays are for children, not for MPs. This is completely ridiculous, there are still unresolved economic issues ahead of us, but MPs are going on holiday. That's very sad. We should be sitting here day and night to deal with these matters, as we haven't resolved almost anything during this session," said Christian Democrats' (KDH) caucus chair Igor Janckulik. Opposition 'Slovakia' party leader Igor Matovic stressed that postponing the approval of proposals slated for fast-track legislative procedures can be viewed as contempt for parliamentary customs. "It's in line with the arrogance of power that rules here. They show contempt for the Constitution, contempt for parliamentary customs, and complete contempt for more than one million opposition voters," said Matovic. Progressive Slovakia (PS) MP Lucia Plavakova considers it to be absurd that Parliament isn't scheduled to vote in March. "Apparently, they can't even be bothered to press the buttons any more, which is what most of them do here. For many of them, that's their only job, yet even this appears to be a problem now. Basically, only opposition MPs are supposed to come and debate bills that have been lying around for a long time," said Plavakova, adding that she otherwise has no problem with adjourning the session until March. In a vote on Friday, MPs adjourned the current 46th parliamentary session, which is set to continue on 17 March and conclude on 20 March. No voting is scheduled during those days; MPs are expected to vote on the debated items at the next regular session due to start on 14 April. jrg/df