Two of three coalition parties want death penalty

Association of Slovak Workers (ZRS) spokesman Jozef Mazár announced on September 9 his party's support for the reintroduction of the death penalty, ČTK reported. Mazár was reacting to a statement made three days earlier by Slovak National Party (SNS) Chairman Ján Slota, who said his party will launch a petition drive to reintroduce capital punishment if Parliament refuses to call a referendum on the matter during its September session. Mazár said the ZRS always favored the death penalty as "an effective means against murders and inhuman brutality." Capital punishment is prohibited by the Constitution and by Slovakia's membership in the Council of Europe. Opposition representatives pointed out that studies have shown that implementing the death penalty does not necessarily decrease violent crime.