Beblavý takes legal action against Kotleba

CITING the violation of constitutional legislation on conflict of interest for public officials, the Sieť party deputy chairman Miroslav Beblavý filed two criminal complaints against Banská Bystrica Regional Governor Marian Kotleba on January 7.

CITING the violation of constitutional legislation on conflict of interest for public officials, the Sieť party deputy chairman Miroslav Beblavý filed two criminal complaints against Banská Bystrica Regional Governor Marian Kotleba on January 7.

The region’s spokesperson responded Kotleba will comment on the case only after Beblavý agrees with attending a discussion broadcast live.

One of the two motions is associated with information that recently surfaced in the media according to which employees of the regional authority have had to transfer part of their salaries into Kotleba’s personal bank account.

“The governor confessed to journalists that he knew about the support on the part of his employees, stating that he would not object to it,” Beblavý said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “The donations also go towards supporting political activities, however. A public official cannot accept such kinds of donations.”

Beblavý added that Kotleba could face a fine of up to 12 monthly salaries.

The other complaint concerns Kotleba’s licence to run a clothes shop under the business name of ‘Mgr. Marian Kotleba - KKK – Anglická móda’.

In this respect, Beblavý added that the licence to run the outlet was put on hold as of June 1, 2014. Nevertheless, Kotleba, elected as Banská Bystrica regional governor in November 2013 and assumed office in December 2013, was supposed to end his business activities within 30 days of being appointed. The respective constitutional law on conflict of interest concerning public officials stipulates that any official with an active business licence while serving in a public administration office can be punished with the loss of six monthly salaries, Beblavý added, as reported by TASR.

Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region (BBSK) spokesman Vladimír Gürtler responded that Kotleba was prepared to attend the live discussion held on January 7 evening, but Beblavý declined.

“BBSK chair Marian Kotleba said that as soon as Miroslav Beblavý collects enough courage to talk to BBSK chair Marian Kotleba in a live broadcast, then BBSK chair Marian Kotleba will relevantly comment on the issue live and publicly,” Gürtler said, as quoted by the SITA newswire, adding that this will secure objective and not misinterpreted statements.

According to regional deputy Ľubica Laššáková, who chairs the caucus of Smer and the Christian Democratic Movement, Kotleba can not only be punished with financial fine, but also with losing his mandate. She referred to the law on the higher territorial units, as reported by SITA.

She added that they have not received the motions yet and know about them only from media. As soon as they get them, they will start dealing with them.

Source: TASR, SITA

Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports

The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.

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