I. Matovič: The EP delegation to monitor the rule of law was not ordered by the Slovak opposition

Bratislava – No one from the opposition ordered the delegation of the European Parliament (EP), which arrived in Slovakia on Monday to check the state of the rule of law. MEPs have the right to be informed about the state of Slovakia. This was stated at a press conference on Monday by the chairman of the opposition movement Slovakia and member of the National Council (NR) of the Slovak Republic Igor Matovič, TASR reports.

“I firmly believe that the Members of the European Parliament who came to check at the government office will not be intimidated by Robert Fico’s threats, as he is trying to discredit them in advance. He calls them people who actually came here at the request of the Slovak opposition. None of us ordered these people,” Matovič said.

The chairwoman of the opposition party For the People, Veronika Remišová, pointed out that government representatives are attacking the judiciary, security forces, and freedom of speech.

“A warning for the members of the euro-delegation who came to Slovakia: Euro MPs should be careful if any strange people in glasses are following them or taking pictures of them. Because that’s how it goes here in Slovakia. When a critical mission from the European Parliament arrives, instead of the government coalition taking some lessons from it, they have them followed,” Remišová said, referring to the statements of Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, who led the previous EP delegation and claims that he was followed by Slovak secret services during his mission.

The leader of the opposition movement PS and member of the National Council (NR) of the Slovak Republic Michal Šimečka believes that the second EP delegation that came to Slovakia will receive a better reception than the previous one. He pointed out that checks by delegations from the European Union are common.

“It is a manifestation of paranoid thinking when the Prime Minister speaks about these people as if they are hired assassins, just because they came to check how European funds are being used. The Minister of the Interior said it is a terrorist or criminal expedition, and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament said it is a hybrid operation or hybrid threat. What kind of statements are these against our partners in the EU, against a European institution that monitors the use of European funds?” Šimečka asked.

A four-member delegation of the EP Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) arrived in Bratislava on Monday to assess the current state of democracy, the rule of law, and the observance of fundamental rights in Slovakia.

The delegation plans to meet with representatives of the Slovak government, the NR SR, the judiciary, the ombudsman, as well as other relevant authorities, organizations, and stakeholders, including representatives of the media and non-governmental organizations focused on human rights, democracy, and non-discrimination. (June 2)

“I firmly believe that the Members of the European Parliament who came to check at the government office will not be intimidated by Robert Fico’s threats, as he is trying to discredit them in advance. He calls them people who actually came here at the request of the Slovak opposition. None of us ordered these people.” Igor Matovič.