Gaspar: Referendum Waste of Money, But Must Be Respected

Bratislava, 21 April (TASR) - Parliamentary Vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) considers calling a referendum with questions on abolishing the so-called lifetime annuity and re-establishing the National Crime Agency and the Special Prosecutor's Office to be a waste of money, but he respects the decision of President Peter Pellegrini, who, he said, had to act in accordance with the law. "We consider it to be spending money unnecessarily, but as the president must respect the law and we also have to respect that decision, the referendum must take place," said Gaspar at a press conference on Tuesday, adding that a potential new government could amend the laws itself. President Pellegrini has called a referendum with two questions concerning the abolition of the so-called lifetime annuity and the restoration of the Special Prosecutor's Office and the National Crime Agency, for 4 July. He said that a question on shortening the electoral term will not be included in the referendum, as it would violate the Constitution. The referendum was initiated by the extra-parliamentary Democrats party, which has announced that it will appeal to the Constitutional Court over the president's decision not to include the question on shortening the electoral term. A referendum is called by the president if at least 350,000 citizens request it via a petition. The Constitution also stipulates that the results of a referendum are valid if more than half of eligible voters participate and if the decision is approved by a majority of the participants. mf/df