Slovakia’s Fico backtracks on criminal law reform after EU and domestic pressure

The government of Prime Minister Robert Fico has reinstated the statute of limitations for violent crimes and withdrawn a bill that would have weakened whistleblower protection, effectively backtracking on its initial controversial proposals to reform the penal code following criticism from the European Commission and nationwide protests.

On Wednesday, Slovakia’s Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer-SD) tabled an amendment to reverse the shortening of the statute of limitations, reinstating the statute of limitations for rape back to 20 years rather than the 10 years stipulated in the initial reform proposal.

“Being aware of the public demand, the proposed bill aims to preserve the existing statute of limitations in the case of crimes against life and health, freedom and human dignity, the family and youth, and the crimes against other rights and freedoms,” Slovakia’s Justice Ministry said.

The leading opposition party, Progressive Slovakia (PS), now said it plans to support the proposal.

“Rape survivors were exposed to trauma for two weeks, which was exacerbated by statements that shortened statutes of limitations are supposed to motivate them to report the violence,” said PS MP Zuzana Števulová.

“All of this could have been avoided if the dilettantish and pro-mafia reform had never even passed,” she added.

The government wants to push through the amendment through a fast-track legislative process with an effective date of 15 March, when the original amendment to the Criminal Code also comes into force.

On 8 February, Fico’s government approved the controversial amendment to the Criminal Code that abolished the Special Prosecutor’s Office and significantly reduced penalties and the statute of limitations for serious crimes.

President Zuzana Čaputová challenged the reform and referred it to the Constitutional Court, which may still suspend it before it comes into force in March.

However, the government used the fast-track legislative procedure to withdraw an amendment that sought to weaken whistleblowers’ protection, meaning the law would be modified and discussed in a proper procedure.

This was one of the objections raised by the European Commission to the Slovak government. In two letters, the Commission warned Bratislava that it could face a fine or the complete suspension of European funds if the reforms were adopted as planned.

“European institutions have also warned of the brutal consequences that the things, such as dismantling the whistleblowers’ institute, would cause. Our fierce resistance in parliament and pressure from the people protesting in the streets is paying off,” wrote PS leader Michal Šimečka.

(Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk)