Slovakia adopts law to crack down on illegal income

Accusations of graft, rarely proven, are a frequent feature of Slovak politics. Corruption has been widespread in central and eastern Europe during post-communist reforms and justice systems have been weak.

The law will allow any Slovak to challenge the origin of anyone else’s assets over 460,000 euros ($629,200). A prosecutor will be able to order the person to disclose where the funds came from. Courts will have the right to confiscate assets of unclear origin.

The 150-seat parliament saw an unusual consensus when 112 deputies voted to change the constitution, necessary to allow adoption of the law, which was endorsed later by 116 votes.

“This law should clear up cases when someone builds a wealth empire over five or 10 years through criminal activity,” Prime Minister Robert Fico said after the vote.

Fico’s leftist SMER party leads opinion polls ahead of the June election by a wide margin.

“I admit that this is one of the most controversial laws adopted by this parliament … I’m not aware of a similar law in Europe,” Fico told journalists after the vote.

Fico’s ruling coalition has suffered several corruption allegations linked to a sale of carbon emissions credits which led to the sacking of an environment minister.

 Slovaks fell in the Transparency International corruption index to 56th place in 2009 from 52 in 2008 and became the worst performer among its regional peers the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

Daniel Lipsic, vice-chairman of the opposition Christian Democrats, backed the law but criticised the coalition for rejecting riders that would make it more powerful.

“All clever, skilled, corrupt politicians will by-pass this law easily via various gifts, loans, fictitious purchases of shares,” he said.

Reuters