SaS Rejects PM Fico's Call for Prosecutor-General to Resign

Bratislava, 8 September (TASR) - Opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party rejects Prime Minister Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) call for Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka to resign, as it believes that Fico's demand once again shows that the prime minister wants to control the country's security forces and secure political influence over who will and will not face criminal prosecution, TASR was told by Michal Goffa from the SaS press department on Tuesday. "Fico wants to take control of the Prosecutor-General's Office. It's not enough for him to have the Bodor family in the police or young Pavol Gaspar as director of the Slovak Information Service. He wants to control all the security forces to ensure impunity from prosecution for his cronies and friends," SaS chair Branislav Groehling stated. He acknowledged that SaS has reservations about the prosecutor-general, but said that an election of the next prosecutor-general should take place only after the parliamentary election in 2027 and that the prosecutor-general should be elected by the new parliament. Tuesday's press conference by the prime minister primarily demonstrated Fico's concerns about what could happen after the next parliamentary election, according to SaS vice-chair Maria Kolikova. "It was clear from the prime minister's press conference that he feels powerless. He can see the Purgatory case progressing and is worried about how the election will turn out," she declared. Kolikova pointed out that decisions on detention are made by courts, while criminal prosecution is decided by the prosecutor handling a particular case. "Whether someone will or will not face criminal prosecution is in the hands of the prosecutor handling the case. It's not right for the prosecutor-general to interfere in this," she added. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Robert Fico called on Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka to resign. Fico said he planned to create pressure through evidence and arguments that would force Zilinka to consider whether it was appropriate for him to remain at the head of the prosecution service. According to Fico, developments at the prosecution service have been influenced by the fact that Zilinka is a nominee of the current opposition. mf/mcs