In a rare moment of unity, 124 MPs from Slovakia's 150-member Parliament voted for a constitutional amendment on Thursday, granting Parliament the power to revoke presidential pardons and amnesties if they are in discrepancy with the principles of the democratic rule of law. This was undertaken in an effort to finally revoke the amnesties issued by Vladimir Mečiar, an act which could come to fruition as early as next week, said Parliamentary Chair Andrej Danko (Slovak National Party). He added that this partly hinges on cooperation from President Andrej Kiska. "Next week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be the days on which this matter will be resolved as long as we have cooperation from the President's Office. I'm confident that we can also manage the legislative process procedure-wise," said Danko at a press conference.
According to Danko, Parliament has taken the first step towards re-evaluating Mečiar's amnesties and the pardon issued by former president Michal Kováč [1993-98] to his own son. He added that Slovakia is one of the first states that have fashioned a mechanism to rectify failures by presidents in issuing amnesties and pardons, although he believes that the new changes teeter on the edge of constitutionality. "Today, we bear witness to a milestone event, as consensus and compromise were achieved that serve as evidence that we're capable of making a [coalition-Opposition] deal," said Danko, who thanked everyone involved in the compromise. "Maybe this will serve as a key springboard to herald future deals on other matters."
The vote overwhelmingly brought both sides of Parliament together, with all present coalition MPs except Anton Hrnko (Slovak National Party) voting for the bill along with all MPs of the Opposition OĽaNO-NOVA, We Are Family party, and the majority of the Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS) and Independents. Opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) caucus leader Natália Blahová was cautiously optimistic. "SaS approached the vote with maximum responsibility, with the decisions of each MP reflecting their consciences and knowledge," she said. Nonetheless, SaS doesn't feel any relief or satisfaction, said Blahová. "The Constitutional Court can stand in the way of justice. We want to believe that this won't happen, however," she said. At the press conference was also Anna Remiášová, the mother of Robert Remiáš, a murdered police officer who was connected to the investigation of the abduction of the then president's son Michal Kováč Jr.
