Prosecutor-General Sees No Evidence of Election Manipulation

Bratislava, 27 February (TASR) - Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka doesn't have any information at his disposal that would confirm any election manipulation. Zilinka said this in response to journalists’ questions about the possible abolition of postal voting from abroad in parliamentary elections. House vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) justified the plan by citing concerns over potential election manipulation, including through postal ballots. "I have no information confirming any alleged election manipulation," Zilinka said, adding that he has not recorded and is not aware of any manipulation in the 2023 parliamentary elections. The prosecutor-general declined to comment on the proposal itself, which is expected to be submitted to Parliament at its next session. "I am not familiar with the proposal or the motivation behind it. The government, as well as MPs, have the right to submit proposals to Parliament, and Parliament has the right to adopt essentially any law, provided it is in line with the Constitution and our international obligations," he added. A proposal to abolish postal voting from abroad in parliamentary elections is expected to be submitted at the next parliamentary session, which begins on 14 April. Gaspar announced the move, adding that it is not yet clear whether the change will be proposed by the government or by MPs. Gaspar defended the intention to replace postal voting with voting at embassies and possibly other designated locations, citing concerns about election manipulation through postal ballots. The opposition's Progressive Slovakia party first reported information about a possible change to voting from abroad in elections to Parliament. Prime Minister and leader of the coalition's senior Smer-SD party Robert Fico did not rule it out. Fico said the government is not preparing such a proposal, but if it is introduced by MPs, he would consider it a good idea. However, he wants Slovaks to be allowed to vote at embassies and other designated locations abroad. mf