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Fico Dismisses Any Connection between Himself and SPF Scandal
Thursday 03 December 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 3 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico, speaking in Parliament on Thursday, dismissed the notion that he could be connected to the current scandal involving the Slovak Land Fund (SPF) and transfers of restituted lands.
Most Opposition MPs left the Parliament in protest against their not having the possibility to react to Fico's speech in Parliament. Meanwhile, KDH caucus chairman Pavol Hrusovsky claims that Fico is connected to the latest scandal.
The media brought information that Fico's cousin Jaroslav Rybansky also works at SPF, but the premier says he has no influence on SPF's decisions. He said that he himself has the possibility to order the Agriculture Minister to recall SPF director and deputy director from their posts, and that this Government keeps itself in check. Fico added that he sees no reason to allow the Opposition to hold itself up as any kind of example of how to govern.
"A cousin of mine allegedly works at SPF. Yes, he does, he's 28 or 29, and works in a department that deals with restitutions. So you want to say that a clerk at SPF is in charge of things? Responsibility lies with the statutory head, the general director, who was nominated to SPF's Supervisory Board by KDH in 2004, also on the general director's deputy, as well as on 11 members of the Fund's council, and I hope that all these people will be recalled from their posts," said Fico.
He said that there is great lobby pressure on people in power, and SPF managers appointed both by Coalition and Opposition have failed in this instance. He said his Government reacted by recalling people from SPF during the first scandal in 2007. "I don't know what else to do. Shall we cancel SPF? We'll do so if we can agree on it," said Premier.
The Parliament shortly after Fico's speech recalled all six SPF board members from their posts nominated by the Government, as well as three members who were nominated by the Parliament at the request of the Coalition. The remaining two members representing the Opposition SMK and KDH resigned from their posts earlier.
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