The vote on the recall of Miloslava Zemková, the head of Slovakia’s public-service radio and television, RTVS, was decided by only MPs from Smer party and two opposition deputies as all other opposition MPs left the parliamentary chamber or abstained from voting, saying they did not want to participate in a “farce staged by Smer”, the TASR newswire wrote. The vote was by secret ballot as proposed by Smer MPs.
“No one from the opposition will come to the secret vote. We agreed we would leave and let the Smer MPs do the thing so that they show their true colours,” stated Igor Matovič from the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OľaNO) party, as quoted by TASR. The opposition left the hall, stating that the head of RTVS should not be recalled in this manner.
László Solymos from Most-Híd party stated that he thought the reason for recalling Zemková was fabricated. “We do not want to rape the law and we dislike the way in which it has been staged,” the MP said, as quoted by TASR.
“I find it a politicised performance by Smer and the start of a steamroller that rolls over everything that comes in its way – in spite of showing a nice face to the public,” stated MP Ľudovít Kaník of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), as quoted by TASR.
Ján Podmanický of Smer defended the secret vote, calling it a democratic institution that enables an MP to express one’s own opinion without political pressure, opening space as well for opposition MPs who found Zemková’s actions to be unlawful.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
