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Opposition: Police Officers Go Beyond Law in Support for Kalinak
Friday 29 January 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, January 29 (TASR) - An independent lawmaker Vladimir Palko verbally attacked Interior Minister Robert Kalinak amid a legislature debate on the opposition-led no-confidence motion in him on Friday, saying hundreds of police officers went beyond the law by gathering outside the parliamentary building in support of Kalinak.
Some 600 police from all around Slovakia arrived outside the national council building in favour of the most senior interior official as lawmakers debate the opposition parties removal proposal brought against the minister over the botched airport security exercise scandal earlier this month.
Former interior minister Palko accused Kalinak of implicating police into a new scandal. He cited the law on state service, saying that a police officer on and off duty is obliged to refrain from any actions which might put police force at risk.
Co-ruling Smer-SD lawmaker Jana Valova said that it is subordinates of Kalinak who have now stood up for him, while Palko, when in office, had faced signs from them, reading among other things "Palko is an organ".
Christian Democrat (KDH) MP Daniel Lipsic wondered aloud, saying what would happen when there is a debate on the no-confidence motion in a defence minister. "Will troops along with military equipment move out here?" he asked.
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