Voice-SD: Debate and Coalition Agreement Needed to Lower Criminal Liability Age

Bratislava, 6 November (TASR) - The Voice-SD party has been looking into the idea of lowering the age of criminal liability for some time, but it doesn't want to turn the submission of proposals into a race to see who can act fastest, Voice-SD MP Peter Kalivoda has told the media, stressing the need for expert discussion and agreement within the governing coalition. "The Voice-SD party has been considering lowering the age of criminal liability for some time. Our leader, Matus Sutaj Estok, raised this issue following the attack in Staskov (Zilina region), along with the question of the liability of parents," said Kalivoda. Voice-SD welcomes the fact that the Slovak National Party (SNS) is also taking up the issue. "However, we reject turning the submission of proposals into a speed contest. We need an expert discussion and an agreement within the governing coalition on well-drafted legislation to ensure that serious acts of violence committed by minors do not go without consequences," added Kalivoda The junior coalition SNS is proposing to lower the age of criminal liability from 14 to 13, or in certain individual cases even to 12 years, SNS leader Andrej Danko announced on Friday, noting that the proposal has been in preparation for some time. The party has already drawn up an amending proposal but wants to discuss it first with Smer-SD and Voice-SD, as well as the Justice Ministry and the Prosecutor-General's Office. In this context, Danko condemned the incident that took place in Velka Lomnica (Presov region) last week. The police are investigating an incident that took place in Velka Lomnica in Kezmarok district on 29 November in which a young girl was brutally assaulted. A video circulating on social media shows a group of children beating a young girl and stripping her naked. ko/df