NBS Governor Peter Kažimír. (source: TASR)
Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. The central bank governor is set to hear his verdict, after a judge rules the case against him remains valid. The transaction tax will likely see changes, Fico admits, but insists won’t be scrapped. And a plagiarist among Smer’s MPs.
If you have a suggestion on how to make this overview better, let me know at michaela.terenzani@spectator.sk.
Kažimír is not out of the woods yet
Changes to penalties and statutes of limitations for corruption-related crimes were among the first things that the fourth government of Robert Fico set out to enact after it took over in the autumn of 2023. The amended Criminal Code has since helped several people suspected of high-profile corruption to avoid prosecution, among them arms industry mogul and close friend of Prime Minister Robert Fico, Miroslav Výboh.
But when it comes to the case of former finance minister Peter Kažimír, the new rules have so far proved ineffective. Kažimír, who despite bribery accusations remains governor of the country’s central bank, the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), is now close to hearing a verdict in his case – even though he has long argued it should be halted due to the expired statute of limitations.
A new ruling means that the case is unlikely to be resolved before Kažimír’s term ends in June this year.
