INDEPENDENT MP Miroslav Beblavý filed two criminal complaints against Banská Bystrica Regional Governor Marian Kotleba for allegedly violating the constitution. If proven guilty, he could be punished with a fine and even lose his position.
The first complaint is related to claims that all nominees at the regional self-government and employees of the regional road administration must transfer 20 percent of their salaries into Kotleba’s 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 taking office in December 2013, was supposed to end his business activities within 30 days of being appointed. The applicable 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 a live discussion held on the evening of January 7, but that Beblavý declined. As soon as Beblavý collects enough courage to talk Kotleba in a live broadcast, Kotleba will relevantly comment on the issue, he added, as quoted by the SITA newswire.
According to regional deputy Ľubica Laššáková, Kotleba could also be punished with loss of his mandate as well as fines, SITA reported.
However, lawyer Vladimír Pirošík said this can happen only if Kotleba repeatedly violates constitutional law, TASR wrote.
