Jánoš will be replaced by Peter Gaži of Smer in parliament, Smer spokeswoman Ľubica Končalová told TASR. Gaži has already been in parliament in this electoral term but after Peter Pellegrini returned from the cabinet to become speaker of parliament, Gaži had to vacate his MP post.
Jánoš is also resigning as Smer district chief in Prievidza. A lawyer representing his wife Iveta has filed a complaint with the Prosecutor General’s Office against Jánoš for alleged blackmail, threats and coercion.
On the other hand, Jánoš has announced that he is filing a criminal complaint for slander and desecration of intimate verbal expression, claiming that “many half-truths and untrue claims” have been published in the media concerning the case.
“It’s unfortunate that my wife has opted for this course of action in the throes of the divorce process,” Jánoš told TASR. “It’s our young daughter who’s suffering from this. I’ve been striving to keep our marriage together until the last moment. None of the claims in the media are true.”
The transcripts – the authenticity of which has not been verified – of recordings of conversations between the MP and his 48-year-old wife Iveta have been posted up on the internet since Tuesday, March 3. According to the transcripts, the Smer MP used vulgarisms and threats.
Ivan Katrinec, a lawyer representing Jánoš's wife, who is also a member of the International Committee for the Fight Against Organised Crime, Terrorism and Corruption, filed a criminal complaint against Jánoš on March 4, the SITA newswire wrote. The complaint concerns alleged mistreatment, blackmail, threats and coercion directed by the MP against his wife.