Justice Minister Stefan Harabin will face a no-confidence vote in the parliament. Two opposition parties, the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party (SDKU-DS) and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), delivered to the parliament on Thursday a no-confidence motion to dismiss Stefan Harabin. The opposition deputies from the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) did not sign the motion, however, they promised to support the vote. KDH deputy and former Justice Minister Daniel Lipsic informed that Mr. Harabin should be dismissed for a friendly relation with Baki Sadiki, whom he considers to be a representative of the Albanian narcotics syndicate in Slovakia.
Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paska is required to convene an extraordinary parliamentary session seven days since the delivery of the motion. Seventy-six votes are needed to oust a Cabinet minister, and the opposition has 57 votes, while additional 10 votes belong to non-affiliated deputies. Mr. Lipsic believes that the attempt to oust Mr. Harabin will not be futile. The constitution allows convening extraordinary sessions with the agenda of a no-confidence vote against a cabinet member, and the opposition, which has a minority in parliament, makes use of this. Mr. Lipsic believes that the aim of such step is to open a public discussion about the scandal, which Prime Minister Robert Fico ignored.
Mr. Lipsic wants the Justice Minister to explain his relation with Mr. Sadiki at the session. Mr. Lipsic opened the scandal before parliament went into recess. He said to Mr. Harabin that he is Mafia friendly, since he is on friendly terms with Mr. Sadiki. Mr. Lipsic criticizes Prime Minister Fico for not dismissing Mr. Harabin despite the fact that the media pointed out to his contact with Mr. Sadiki, who was accused of involvement in heroin trade and convicted for other criminal deeds, among them illegal possession of firearms.
Mr. Harabin will be the fourth minister of Fico's government, who will face a no-confidence vote in the parliament. The opposition failed so far in every attempt to oust a minister of Fico's cabinet. Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek, Labor Minister Viera Tomanova and Finance Minister Jan Pociatek survived the no-confidence votes. The opposition deputies were not successful twice to oust Prime Minister either.
The strongest coalition party SMER-SD considers the attempt to oust Justice Minister as vain, proving the opposition's despair.