BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) – Thousands of people took part in growing street protests across Slovakia on Thursday, protesting populist Prime Minister Roberto Fico's plans to reform the criminal code and abolish the national prosecutor's office.
The proposed changes have faced harsh criticism both domestically and internationally.
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The plan approved by Fico's coalition government includes the abolition of the Special Prosecutor's Office, which handles serious crimes such as corruption, organized crime and extremism. Those cases will be taken over by prosecutors in the district office, which has not handled these types of crimes in 20 years.
Planned changes also include reducing penalties for corruption and some other crimes, including the possibility of suspended sentences, and significantly shortening the statute of limitations.
Protests against Slovakia's plans to reform its criminal law are gaining momentum in Eastern European countries.
Protests on Thursday took place in 20 cities and towns, including the capital, and also spread to Prague and Brno in the Czech Republic, Krakow in Poland and Paris.
“We are not ready to give up,” Michal Šimečka, leader of the main opposition party Liberal Progressive Slovakia, told a large crowd that filled Bratislava's central SNP square.
“We will increase the pressure,” Simechka said. “We will defend justice and freedom in our country,” he said.
“Mafia, mafia”, “Fico mob”, people shouted.
Earlier on Thursday, the ruling coalition voted to use expedited parliamentary procedures to approve the changes. This means that the bill is not considered by experts or those normally involved in the general legislative process.
The coalition also voted in favor of limiting debate in the first of three parliamentary readings. Opposition parties condemned the move.
“They decided to silence us in Congress, but they are not going to silence you,” Simechka said.
Changes may be made to the bill during second reading, and a final vote could take place next Wednesday.
President Zuzana Čaputova said the proposed changes would jeopardize the rule of law and cause “unforeseeable” damage to society.
The European Parliament has also questioned Slovakia's ability to fight corruption if the changes are adopted. The European Public Prosecutor's Office said Slovakia's plan threatened the protection of the EU's financial interests and anti-corruption framework.
Čaputova said she was prepared to file a constitutional challenge to the bill. It is unclear what decision the Constitutional Court will make.
Fico returned to power for a fourth time after his scandal-plagued left-wing party won a parliamentary election on September 30 on a pro-Russian, anti-American platform.
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A number of people associated with the party have been charged in corruption scandals.
Fico's critics fear that his return will force Slovakia to abandon its pro-Western policies and instead follow the lead of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Hungary.
