EU lawmakers raise alarm over Slovakia's criminal law reforms

(Reuters) – European Union lawmakers have expressed serious concerns about Slovakia’s proposed changes to its criminal code and the closure of a special prosecutor’s office. They are also critical of the government’s plan to fast-track the changes.

The European Parliament, in a resolution passed by 496 of the 630 lawmakers who voted, has called for more scrutiny of the changes and has urged the European Commission to take action to protect the rule of law and judicial independence.

Prime Minister Robert Fico’s leftist, populist government, which has been in power since October, unveiled the legislative changes in December. As a result, it has faced almost weekly protests led by pro-Western liberal and conservative opposition parties.

The opposition believes that the reforms would shield allies of the current government from prosecution and could jeopardize EU funds if they are seen to undermine the rule of law. This is an issue that has caused tension between Poland and Hungary and the European Union.

The Commission and the United States have already expressed reservations about the rapid pace of the reform after the government announced that it would present the legislation to Slovakia’s parliament using a fast-track procedure.

Slovak President Zuzana Caputova has threatened to veto the legislation, although Fico’s government has the power to override her decision.

The EU parliament’s resolution stated that the amendment to the criminal code and the dissolution of the special prosecutor’s office (USP) – which has been responsible for major corruption cases for two decades – “threatens the integrity of judicial processes, undermines the European Union’s fight against fraud and jeopardizes the protection of the EU’s financial interests.”

The Slovak government’s plan also involves reducing protection for whistleblowers and reducing sentences for financial crimes.

The USP has initiated numerous cases against business leaders, judicial and police officers, some of whom are connected to Fico’s party, following a 2020 election win by parties vowing to combat corruption.

According to Slovak media, 40 individuals have been convicted while another 130 are under investigation or facing trial.

The EU’s justice commissioner Didier Reynders stated in mid-December that the Commission could take action against Slovakia if it implements criminal law changes that violate EU laws.

Fico was forced to resign after widespread protests in 2018 following the murder of anti-corruption journalist Jan Kuciak. He returned to power for a fourth time after a September election.

He has accused the USP and its leader Daniel Lipsic, a former justice minister in a non-Fico government, of being politically biased against his SMER-SSD party.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Ros Russell)