PS Calls for Tibor Gaspar to Be Removed from Parliamentary Leadership

Bratislava, 3 September (TASR) - Parliamentary vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) must leave his post, opposition Progressive Slovakia reiterated again on Thursday. The party added that it planned to initiate his removal in September. PS MPs have also submitted an amendment to the Slovak Constitution proposing that a lawmaker charged with corruption or offences committed by public officials should be barred from serving as the chair or vice-chair of Parliament. PS criticised Gaspar for remaining in the House leadership despite being implicated in the Purgatory criminal case. "It is unacceptable that we should start another parliamentary season with one of its representatives still charged with such serious crimes, where witnesses have repeatedly confirmed their claims that they were meeting to manipulate court decisions, interfere with investigations, influence cases in favour of corrupt individuals, exploit entrepreneurs and carry out checks on people," MP Zuzana Mesterova (PS) said at a press conference on Thursday. She called on Gaspar to resign. "We stand by our statement and will seek Tibor Gaspar's removal at this session as well. We will continue to point out that such a person cannot represent one of the country's highest institutions," she added. According to Mesterova, it is unacceptable for "such a high-ranking official to exploit the Parliament's premises" by holding press conferences with his lawyer and defending himself regarding his criminal cases on parliamentary premises. "It is equally unacceptable that we have seen for three years how a government coalition can use a simple majority to change criminal policy to its own advantage," the MP said. PS therefore wants to establish a constitutional eligibility requirement for the House leadership positions. "The proposed amendment does not affect the MP's mandate in Parliament," PS added. The aim of the proposal is to protect the integrity and credibility of the legislature's leadership. The Purgatory case concerns allegations that a criminal group was created and operated within the highest levels of the police and security authorities between 2012 and 2018. Gaspar was the police corps president during that period. mf