BRATISLAVA, February 17, (WEBNOVINY) – Scrapping immunity from prosecution for minor offenses enjoyed by MPs, judges and the president is definite. On Friday President Ivan Gasparovic signed into law the Parliament approved amendment to the law on misdemeanors, which cancels their immunity on transgressions. As of March 1, they will no longer be able to park in restricted zones or speed without being punished. Two weeks ago, all 147 MPs present voted to support the draft.
SMER-SD deputy Anna Vittekova then pushed forward an amending proposal based on which not only MPs, but also the president, prosecutors, the prosecutor general, members of the intelligence service SIS, police corps, the correctional and courtroom security corps and railway police will lose immunity. Diplomats, however, will be able to enjoy immunity from prosecution for transgressions also in the future, as the parliament did not support the proposal to lift their immunity.
The authors of the amendment from the outgoing governing coalition reasoned when presenting the draft that in line with the Constitution, all citizens of the Slovak Republic are equal in dignity and rights.
By lifting the immunity from prosecution for minor offenses, the former ruling coalition partners fulfilled one of their promises from the program statement of Iveta Radicova’s government at the last moment. The amendment was waiting for the final vote from May 31, 2011 when parliament approved it in the first reading. The parties SDKU-DS, KDH and SaS declare that the next step will be scrapping immunity from criminal prosecution, however, this change needs a constitutional majority to pass.
SITA