Slovakia sends controversial mission to defend criminal law reforms in Brussels
Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government is sending a specially commissioned envoy to explain the government’s actions in the area of the rule of law to the EU institutions, but the envoy, who in past claimed vaccines against COVID-19 were biological weapons, is sparking controversy.
Marica Pirošíková, the country’s former representative before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), will be going to Brussels to defend Slovakia’s stance regarding a controversial criminal code reform.
“The aim of this assignment is to ensure the effective communication between the Ministry of Justice and the European institutions,” the ministry stated in regards to Pirošíková’s new role in Brussels.
Fico’s government continues to work towards passing legislation that would dissolve the anti-corruption Special Prosecutor’s Office, possibly dismantle the National Crime Agency (NAKA) which investigates particularly serious crimes, reduce penalties, including those for corruption, and curtail the whistleblowers’ rights.
Pirošíková will accompany the permanent representative of the Slovak Republic to the EU, Ambassador Petra Vargová, during negotiations with representatives of the EU institutions.
Since December, Pirošíková has worked as an advisor to the Slovak Justice Minister Boris Susko (Smer) who is preparing the controversial reform, against which tens of thousands of Slovaks protest every week.
Despite serving in the ECHR, Pirošíková also become known for controversies. Daily SME reports that during the COVID-19 pandemic, she had advocated against obligatory vaccination and had sent a collective complaint to The International Criminal Court (ICC).
Among other things, the complaint stated “the SARS-CoV-2 virus and experimental versions of the Covid-19 vaccines are deliberately created biological weapons that have been released in two phases”.
Pirošíková has been repeatedly quoted by Slovak “alternative” media which are considered to spread disinformation or problematic content, according to Denník N.
The government’s choice comes amid with another controversial nomination, MP Peter Kotlár, who was chosen as its newly founded “plenipotentiary for the review of the governance and resource management during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Kotlár has risen to local fame as a presenter in a Slovak disinformation internet TV, promoting strong anti-vaxxer stances.
Fico justified the appointment by claiming that the management of the pandemic was “characterised by a failure to protect fundamental rights and freedoms”. Fico himself refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and called for protests to take place during lockdowns.
(Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk)
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