The Hlas-SD party will come within the second reading to the draft constitutional law on the extension of the mandate of self-governing bodies with an amendmentwhich would make it possible to shorten the election period of the National Council of the Slovak Republic by referendum. He confirmed this in the STVR Sobotné dialogy radio discussion Minister of the Interior of the Slovak Republic and Chairman of Hlas-SD Matúš Šutaj Eštok. He was responding to a question regarding the draft constitutional law, which the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) of the Slovak Republic submitted this week for comments.
- Šutaj Eštok announces that the Slovnaft refinery will introduce measures to reduce fuel prices.
“I see room for us not to go with another government proposal, but to use the possibility within the framework of the already open proposal to amend the constitutional law,” said Šutaj Eštok. The leader of the PS opposition movement, Michal Šimečka, emphasized the importance of the referendum, but pointed out that the PS adopted the principle of not participating in coalition proposals for constitutional changes. “It would be a fundamental change and we really won’t support it at this moment if such a proposal comes from the coalition,” he declared regarding the MS proposal. However, he does not reject public debate on the topic.
Both speakers also talked about the campaign of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic On your own, in which interactive videos about drugs, cyberbullying and animal cruelty are played to children in special rooms. In this context, Šimečka drew attention to the objections of experts and is clearly in favor of the department stopping the campaign. “Recognize that it was a step aside, that it can really scare and traumatize young children in particular,” he said to the minister.
He also does not like the way the campaign was handled by the department. Šutaj Eštok questioned the critical voices of the campaign, pointing out that the campaign was prepared by the National Anti-Drug Unit and experts – preventionists in the police. It stands behind the importance of the campaign. “If we save even one young life from the dangers of drugs, this campaign is worth it,” he declared. He is convinced that there is nothing to change about the campaign. “It is important that we clearly show that drugs are the biggest shit,” he stressed. He also pointed out that the campaign is aimed at children and young people at an age in which they are already at real risk of falling into the drug trap.
They also addressed the topic of current fuel prices in Slovakia, Šutaj Eštok declared that the Slovnaft refinery will respond to government pressure in the coming days with measures that will reduce fuel prices. “We will definitely not let it go,” he assured. His opponent in the debate believes that the current situation “absolutely shattered the story that Russian oil through the Druzhba is cheap.” He reminded that at the time of stopping the transit of oil through the Druzhba, fuel prices in Slovakia were lower than at present, when supplies are restored. “Members of the government should stand in front of the public and say that the Russian oil was a myth, because it is cheap and profitable only for Slovnaft and MOL,” announced the PS leader.
The discussion also touched on the issue of the mandates of the heads of the National Security Office (NBÚ) and the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS). The minister pointed out that in the case of the director of the NBU, the nomination proposal is pending at the SNS. At the NBS governor’s office, he once again supported Petr Kažimír’s retention in this position. “If we want to solve any personnel issues within this coalition, the election of Petr Kažimír will also be a condition of the Voice,” he said.
Šimečka emphasized that both posts should be filled by a professional with pure moral credit, not on the basis of a political agreement. He also made no secret of his indignation at the fact that the current governor is still in office. “Mr. Kažimír has been convicted by a court, albeit illegally, but I still don’t understand how it is possible that he didn’t leave immediately. That would happen in any civilized country,” he concluded.
