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Vote on Curbing MPs' and Judges' Immunity Postponed, Session Over
Friday 10 September 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, September 10 (TASR) - Parliament's voting on curbing MPs' and judges' immunity from prosecution has been put back until October, as Coalition MPs at a session on Friday backed a proposal to this effect brought forward by MPs Julius Brocka (Christian Democrats/KDH) and Peter Osusky (Most-Hid), TASR has learnt.
"We're to blame for preventing Opposition MPs from voting," said a contrite Brocka. He was referring to an unseemly incident that prompted leading Opposition Smer-SD MPs to boycott the House session when a Coalition MP used vulgar language when speaking to an Opposition MP.
The incident involved Coalition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) MP Igor Matovic and Robert Kalinak of Smer-SD, who became embroiled in a heated verbal exchange during the session on Thursday that nearly ended up in a donnybrook. Matovic later apologised to Kalinak for calling him names.
According to Osusky, one's common sense makes it clear that there's no point in holding a vote when the number of MPs present in the chamber falls below 90 (the number that is required for a constitutional amendment to be okayed).
Meanwhile, Coalition SDKU-DS legislator Milan Hort held a different view. "Everybody can make a mistake, but if they're able to say 'sorry' then it's probably the other side that is to blame ... If you believe that the current Opposition, which was in power for four years and tabled (but failed to pass) three proposals aimed at curtailing MPs' immunity is truly committed to having the law passed, then you're naive."
According to Hort, the Coalition did its utmost to rectify the situation that arose Thursday. The Opposition is facing no obstacle that would prevent it from turning up for the vote, he said in expressing his disappointment that the issue remains unresolved after more than a decade of debate.
As the House has discussed all matters pertinent to its current session, Parliamentary Chairman Richard Sulik (SaS) concluded the session. MPs are set to reconvene on October 12.
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