Kuciak-murder in Slovakia: Could not imagine that something like this can happen

Minister, the new government of Slovakia competed in March in the shadow of the Corona-crisis. The picture of the swearing-in, behind the masks went around the world. But what the government is content?

Stephan Löwenstein

Political correspondent, based in Vienna.

We have in the elections is a clear mandate from the citizens to get. It obliges us, in particular, to look at the area of justice, on justice and trust of citizens in the state. The people were frustrated. You have seen that not all are equal before the law. The second topic is the economy, of course. We have a very open economy, we are, in this respect, on the sixth place in the world, the trade turnover amounts to 160 percent of the gross national product. The plans with which we have a choice, have changed, of course, greatly influenced by the confrontation with the Corona-crisis.

And the foreign policy?

I want the foreign policy serves the Slovak interests, but we are a member of the community of values the European Union and Nato. We know What is in the interest of the European Union as a whole, which also serves to Slovakia.

After the murder of the journalist Ján Kuciak has shown a large civil commitment of citizens, it is also a high level of corruption and the density of mafia-like structures have become apparent. A new government is initially only a Change to the surface. How can it be possible to get these structures in depth in the handle?

I've seen as a turning point. We could not imagine in our worst Dreams that something like this can happen in the middle of Europe. We know, we have only one attempt at the tackle. The answer lies in the transparency in how we govern. Second, we need to make our judiciary clean. The structures need to be broken.

Can this be done?

Yes, because the pressure is so great. Now this theme of the Corona has been overshadowed by the crisis, but this is not off the table. We know people will ask: What happens with the attorney General? The police will have a free Hand, if you are investigating a case? Before the court must be decided without outside influence.

Can help the EU institutions? For example, the European public Prosecutor's office?

We support the concept of the European public Prosecutor's office. But, you know: Either we can do this at the national level, or we will not be credible before our citizens.

What Vision has your government for the future of the EU: More Integration or more of the sovereignty of nation-States?

I'm not a fan of this Either-Or. We need to look at the respective areas accurately and precisely say where we need more Integration and where we need to introduce any further integration steps. What worries me are the countless promises we have given in the past ten years, as the us one crisis after another chased has. Again and again we have delivered what we have promised. We need to step way, the areas of the pitch where we might need more Integration – but the path leads through a reinvention of the European Union.