In the first quarter of 2012, the quality of democracy in Slovakia worsened slightly, mainly due to negative trends in the legislative sphere and in human and minority rights, according to a report, IVO Barometer, published by the Institute for Public Affairs (IVO).
According to the report, the total mark for democracy in Slovakia fell by 0.2 points from the last evaluation to 2.8. The factors behind this decline include the departure of the government of Prime Minister Iveta Radičová and the creation of the new administration of Robert Fico, said IVO president Grigorij Mesežnikov, according to the SITA newswire. In areas reviewing the operation of democratic institutions and the rule of law as well as the independent media, the rating did not change, he added.
Mesežnikov further opined that the lawmaking process was impacted by the Radičová government’s loss of a confidence vote in October 2011. He highlighted the approved amendment on the minimum wage claims of nurses as an example of a bad legislative step, as there was no financial accounting to pay for it. In legislation, the non-systemic constitutional amendment passed following the no-confidence vote in the government gave greater powers to the president, who has played a negative role, according to Mesežnikov.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
