Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka, involved in high-level corruption cases, will not bow to the EU Commission’s ‘pressure’ or ‘doubt’ after the recent Rule of Law report that mentioned limiting his power to overrule the decisions of subordinate prosecutors.
The fourth annual rule of law report issued seven recommendations for Slovakia, including limiting the power of the prosecutor general.
Žilinka has previously been involved in high-level corruption cases. Most prominently, he cancelled the indictments of former prime minister Robert Fico and former interior minister Robert Kaliňák, ensuring they would not face trial for alleged crimes during their administration.
“The prosecutor general is the head of the Prosecutor’s office, not the president of the European Commission,” wrote Žilinka in a critical Facebook post in reaction to the report. The Commission’s recommendation came after consultations with various ministries, NGOs, journalists and Žilinka’s office.
Maroš Žilinka was appointed by the anti-corruption OĽaNO government in 2020. During his public hearings, he called the power to dismiss indictments “a slippery slope” which “causes trouble” but quickly changed tune after assuming office. Former justice minister Mária Kolíková called his tenure “an enormous disappointment”.
Multiple attempts at restricting the power failed in the Slovak parliament, most recently in June 2023, where members of Smer and Smer-defectors from the Hlas party voted against it. So did Sme rodina party MPs, who nominated Vladimír Pčolinský, former secret service director, whose corruption charges were also dropped by Žilinka.
Leader of Smer Fico sent the Commission an open letter, criticising the rule of law report as a political tool. “Fico wants Žilinka as a lifeline,” commented MP Juraj Šeliga from the Democrats party, who campaigned for restriction of paragraph 363, adding that Smer’s candidate list is an “assembly of the accused”.
(Barbara Zmušková | EURACTIV.sk)
Read more with EURACTIV
Pro-Russian party denied Bulgarian Eurozone membership referendum
Source: euractiv.com
