Potential SIS head announced
Máte problém s prehrávaním? Nahláste nám chybu v prehrávači.
Justice Ministry State Secretary, Pavol Gašpar, should become the new head of the Slovak Information Service (SIS). The government okayed his appointment at its session on Wednesday, the 14th of February. The Intelligence Service head is appointed by the P
resident based on the government's proposal.
Pavol Gašpar served in the police and judicial authorities in the past. He also worked as a lawyer.
Interior Minister, Matúš Šutaj Eštok said: "From my point of view, Pavol Gašpar is a qualified and capable person. He has no ties to the current environment of the Slovak Information Service"
Pavol Gašpar stated on his social media that he meets all legal prerequisites. He sees the function as apolitical and highly professional.
However, Pavol Gašpar was prosecuted in 2022 for the crime of incitement to perjury. He also spoke about the physical liquidation of special prosecutor Daniel Lipšic. Currently, Gašpar is not being prosecuted.
The opposition has criticized the choice of the Intelligence Service head. It speaks of both insufficient qualifications and conflict of interest. His father, Tibor Gašpar, is a former Police Corps president and now MP for Smer-SD and a member of the Slovak Information Service control committee. Tibor Gašpar says he would resign from his post, if his son is appointed.
Michal Šimečka from Progresívne Slovensko criticised the nomination: "The government has appointed a person, who has ties to the oligarchs from Nitra, western Slovakia, and the entire clan around Smer-SD."
Slovensko movement of Igor Matovič appeals to President Zuzana Čaputová not to appoint Pavol Gašpar. President´s spokesperson informed that a change in the leadership of the Slovak Information Service is not yet such a priority that Čaputová will have to deal with it in the near future. Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized president´s attitude.
Source: RTVS, TASR
