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investigation into the so-called Stork’s Nest case that has implicated Babis in the misuse of EU funds.
“I believe this actually is 'the nail in
the coffin'. I expect public anger and
I hope that even more active action from the opposition ranks will lead
to the end of ‘system Babis’. This
grant seeking needs to be finished,”
said the director of Transparency International David Ondracka at a press conference, streamed by online Seznam. cz, called by the initiative Million Moments for Democracy, which is the main organiser of protests against Babis and Benesova across the country.
The opposition leader Petr Fiala (Civic Democrats, ODS) called on the minority Babis’ government to seek a new vote
of confidence from Parliament. Fiala pointed to a damning draft European Commission report that bluntly accused Babis of misusing EU funds that was leaked last month. Babis rejected the criticism saying there is no grounds for action as the report has yet to be offi- cially submitted.
The leader of Babis’ junior coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party, Jan Hamacek, said he still has faith in the coalition and would not draw any conclusions based on findings from
a preliminary audit.
The government agreed that a draft response to the audit will be written by public officials, rather than ministers. “We have civil servants who should not succumb to the influence of ministers. So, if you want to know which ministers will draft a response to Brussels,
I say none. It will be done by the civil servants of the ministries concerned,” said Hamacek, online iDnes.cz reported.
According to the leaked copy of the European Commission’s audit report, Babis has a conflict of interest, despite the fact that his former businesses have been placed in trust funds. There are suggestions the Czech Republic will have to return hundreds of millions of crowns to the European Union budget if the report is accepted.
Zuzana Caputova sworn in as Slovakia's first female president
Nelly Tomcikova in Prague
Slovakia's outgoing president Andrej Kiska handed over the Presidential Palace to the new head of state Zuzana Caputova on June 15. “I did not come to reign, but to serve people,” Caputova said in her inauguration speech.
“By taking the constitutional oath, I assume all the commitments and obligations of the public service. I haven't come to rule, I've come to serve citizens, inhabitants, Slovakia. I'll serve the well-being of the Slovak nation, national minorities and ethnic groups living in the Slovak Republic,” Caputova said.
Known as the “Erin Brockovich of Slovakia” Caputova is a lawyer and an environmental activist, who came out of left field in the recent elections, riding the wave of frustration at the corruption amongst the existing political elite.
Caputova also highlighted the peaceful split of Czechoslovakia, the drastic economic measures that Slovakia went through due to the one-third decrease of its central bank's foreign exchange reserves after break-up, the successful accession of Slovakia to the European Union and the Schengen area, and claimed an allegiance to the pro-European and pro-Atlantic orientation of Slovakia.
She reminded that the protests following the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, that are partly responsible for catapulting her into office, underline the importance of the rule of law. “Too many people in Slovakia have gained a justified belief that this is not true in our country. The sense of social injustice has intensified and has taken two forms: a form of calling for change and for decency, but also a form of anger at the system,” said Caputova, as quoted by the Slovak News Agency (SNA).
“Ms. President repeatedly said she wants to be president of all citizens of Slovakia. We'll be happy to see this come true. There's hardly anything we can criticise in it,” said Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party chair Natalia Blahova, SNA reported.
“We heard nice words, now it's time for deeds. I was most impressed by the appeal to the dignity of every person's life and the promise that she'd be the voice of those who aren't heard. These are the two main goals of my stay in politics," the Opposition OLaNO chair Igor Matovic said in response to the president's speech," said Matovic, according to SNA.
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