When even the Police...

Today came as a terrible shock to me. The Parliament's order of the day scheduled a debate for recalling the Interior Minister's. When following, not only this year's scandals - and we have had only one month behind us - also previous scandals over the past few years would be dealt with - the opposition would demand Mr Kaliňák's demise. 

The fact, that Prime Minister Fico would safe his Interior Minsiter's neck was to be expected from the onset - they're party buddies; brothers-in-arms so to speak. What was so shocking, was the fact that a police union leader had organised a police demonstration to express their support for their Minister.

With all respect - as of when is it allowed, that police officers openly go demonstrating to show their political preference (leaving aside, that the involved Minister is more than dubious)?  This falls under sheer political agitation. The organiser appeared in one of the television news. It was a certain Mr Miroslav Litva. 

Thanks to Google, I went to look into Mr Litva's background a bit, and it showed that he was earlier demoted for instigating similar political demonstrations against a Minister - who was righfully cleansing the whole corrupt police apparatus - an inheritance from the communist times and heavy Mečiarism - in order to make it more professional, open and democratic. Aha, a bit of a troublemaker we've got here then.

Then I searched for 'ethics' and 'police'. To my greatest surprise, there is a European club of Police organisations called the European Confederation of Police (EuroCOP) in Luxemburg. Interesting statements on Ethics within the police. But suddenly my eye fell on the organisation.... one of the Executive Committee Members was... Mr Miroslav Litva. The same? Yes indeed - at least: how big a chance would it be when the picture and job-description matches, and still dealing with two different people. None.

In a democratic state, the police should be absolutely impartial and a-political. Calling policemen to join a demonstration is fine (they have rights too) only in case it would pertain to their working conditions, salaries, safety, staffing, etc, be it on an exceptional basis. But expressing a political preference is a border which is never to be crossed! It is the gravest transgression of their unique position within society.

The impertinence is therefore so striking, that a high ranking committee member of a European police organisation, which promotes ethics, is not only breaking one of the basic pillars of a democratic society - one anonymous mail from a policeman implied even pressure to participate "or else"...

I have immediately politely asked the President of EuroCOP, Mr Heinz Kiefer, for an explanation. I am looking forward to be clarified accordingly about the circumstances in a fairly satisfactory way.

One little point is still gnawing at the back of my mind, and I am surprised, why the reporter didn't ask Mr Litva this: Who actually paid for the transportation throughout Slovakia for the protesting constables. I certainly hope, it was not from our taxes. Why it bothers me? Well,  I can think of another situation, where the police was used for political purposes as well. We are thinking of Germany in the 1930s ... Need I say more?

MS