The sixth protest in front of the Bonaparte complex. (source: Sme)
People demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák gathered for the sixth time in front of the Bonaparte complex in Bratislava on Monday, July 25.
“It does not matter whether there will be 50 or 5,000 people, we must alert that this is not a normal situation,” said Richard Sulík, head of the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party in his speech as cited by the SITA newswire, adding that it is not normal in a developed country that the prime minister lives in an apartment built with money from tax frauds and that the interior minister is investigated by his subordinates.
Sulík believes that the continuing protests have their meaning. This is also proven by criticism of the affair from the side of several MEPs for Smer.
“Each additional day Kaliňák stays in his post, Smer is losing,” said Sulík.
OĽaNO-NOVA leader Igor Matovič said that he has repeatedly explained to the investigator and the supervising prosecutor how Fico and Kaliňák behave in a corruptly and his feeling is that supervising prosecutor Vasiľ Špirko is interested in investigation of the case.
“My feeling from him was that he is not biased,” said Matovič, adding that now this prosecutor may be accused of abuse of the powers of a civil servant. “They have two witnesses in order they can take this case away from him.”
The opposition calls on Fico to oust Kaliňák because he traded with businessman Ladislav Bašternák who is suspected of tax frauds. They simultaneously call on Fico to move from the Bonaparte complex because it was financed by money from tax frauds. Moreover, Fico enjoys a reduced rental rate in the complex, which they consider to be a bribe.
SaS and OĽaNO-NOVA plan to continue to hold protests until early September, which should take place not only in Bratislava, but also in other cities. Next protests are planned for Trenčín, Trnava, Poprad, Prievidza, Banská Bystrica and Martin.
