The daily SME released statements of the Chairman of the ruling ĽS-HZD, Vladimír Mečiar, from the weekend when the party's leadership came together. Mečiar attacked Police President Ján Packa who has already been the target of criticism for several days over the recent escape of the convict Roman Červenka who is suspected of having committed a bank robbery in Bratislava. Mečiar said that Packa was considered an outsider with an incredible career at the Office for Protection of Constitutional Officials where he had operated before he took the top police job.
Mečiar remarked that Packa also led the office when it was responsible for three accidents. Mečiar said he does not know whether Packa was promoted to general because it was only three accidents or because he survived three accidents. He also said he knows many more capable policemen. Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák, who is Packa's direct boss, said he was not considering his recall but he will be pleased to hear Mečiar's arguments. Packa responded that the police president abides by laws of this state, not by the political opinions of Mečiar. The opposition wanted to discuss a no-confidence motion against minister Kaliňák on Monday. Prime Minster Robert Fico, however, sees no reason for recalling Kaliňák as the ĽS-HZDS and the SNS trust him, the SITA newswire quoted the SME. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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