THE GOVERNMENT took under consideration an analysis by the Justice Ministry of the operation of the Special Court and the Special Attorney’s Office at its session yesterday, but did not make a final decision on the fate of these institutions.
Justice Minister Štefan Harabin wants to shut down the Special Court, set up by the previous government to deal specifically with corruption and organized crime cases. According to Harabin, the court is ineffective, and its judges enjoy special conditions including considerably higher wages than justices in the regular court system.
PM Robert Fico, who voted in favour of high wages for Special Court judges during the previous election term, said he wanted to launch a wide public debate on the Special Court.
In Fico’s opinion, however, the court has not performed as well as expected.
“We have to start a serious discussion on the powers of this institution. Justices at district courts who have no special protection still decide the most serious cases,” Fico said.
According to the Sme daily, the PM’s Smer party believes that the Special Court should not deal with minor corruption cases, but approves its handling of political corruption and organized crime cases.
