Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government coalition has de facto seized control of the parliamentary committee overseeing the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS), traditionally led by the opposition, leading to fears about its impartiality and ability to investigate matters such as the alleged purchase of Pegasus spyware and concerns about bomb threats to schools.
The key parliamentary committee overseeing the SIS has been dysfunctional for four months after the coalition ousted opposition MP and former justice minister Mária Kolíková (SaS) as chair. Critics argue that the reasons for her dismissal were fabricated.
On Tuesday, the coalition appointed government MP Samuel Migaľ (Hlas-SD/NI) as temporary chairman of the committee, thus enabling it to meet.
When all opposition parties insisted that the dismissed Kolíková (SaS) be reinstated as chair, the coalition ignored their request.
Instead, Migaľ appointed two deputy chairpersons from the ruling coalition – Peter Šuc (Smer-SD/NI) and Peter Kotlár (SNS) – to lead the committee and subsequently resigned from the chairmanship.
The committee, which has always been under the control of the opposition parties, is now de facto controlled by government MPs. Since the coalition has a majority, it is entirely up to them whether any meaningful discussion takes place.
Adding to concerns, the head of the Slovak intelligence service is Pavol Gašpar, the son of prominent Smer-SD MP Tibor Gašpar, making effective oversight of the institution impossible.
“The government coalition, by removing me from the chair of the parliamentary committee overseeing SIS, has clearly shown that it does not want any opposition control over the SIS,” Kolíková told Euractiv Slovakia.
“The fact that the committee is now led by the coalition, not the opposition, is part of a broader picture showing that democracy in parliament is turning into a farce,” she added.
‘Conduct unworthy of an EU member’
The entire parliamentary opposition has rallied behind Kolíková, accusing the coalition of trampling on parliamentary tradition and engaging in unprecedented behaviour for an EU member.
“The committee, which is supposed to be controlled by the opposition, is now controlled by the government. I don’t believe this has ever happened in any EU country,” said opposition MP and committee member František Majerský (KDH/EPP), warning that it could have consequences for international relations.
Migaľ defended the coalition’s actions, insisting that his priority was to restore the committee’s functioning.
He argued that Kolíková could not return to her post because she had “violated parliamentary procedures and that the reasons for her dismissal were clear”.
“If the opposition nominates another MP, there will be no issue voting for them in parliament,” Migaľ added.
Just a week ago, the ruling coalition also removed opposition leader Michal Šimečka (PS/RE) from his position as deputy speaker. The role has traditionally been held by the opposition. Even three members of the coalition refused to vote for Šimečka’s dismissal.