The ruling coalition is characterised not only by love for cars, brothers, and mothers-in-law (etc.), but also by legislative support for existential certainties, of which the new Civil Court Order is the crown jewel.
The change reduces court fees for cases involving defamation or the publication of false information about a person, which is clearly a way of making it easier for celebrities and politicians to protect themselves against the media. This is obviously a matter of the highest social importance. Secondly, it also requires that the case be dealt with in the home jurisdiction of the plaintiff. After all, who better to provide an impartial verdict than a judge one meets frequently at balls and banquets? It is a fine thing that the law expressed what we all feel: that politicians and other celebrities deserve a special status, given that is clear their position in society is inferior.
The Statistics Bureau may not track this indicator, but it is clear that the income of those who use these new paragraphs in the law will be many times the average wage. The amendment represents not only the arrogance and group selfishness of its supporters, but also their natural miserliness. Slovakia is ruled by characters of such quality that they are prepared to change laws to save themselves Sk3,000. The only good thing is that the law sets a new and lower value on the names it protects.
Sme, May 21
