Perhaps some of my readers will remember the mentioned comedy, where the clumsy chief-inspecteur Clouseau is about to solve a criminal case, with rather good luck (paired with a series of the usual slapstick mishaps) than a shrewd professional strategy. Such cumulation of stupidity is only possible in movies. So I thought until now.Slovakia's Prime Minister Fico, when throwing mud at the opposition's alleged money-laundering scandal, bragged on organising a trip to Switzerland, to personally investigate alleged bank-accounts and connections in order to prove the opposition's guilt. A series of embarrassingly loud mouthed press conferences followed.
Interestingly enough, ever since Mr Fico has suddenly been suspiciously quiet. In my view, he should have been quiet from the very beginning; not only is it not-done for a Prime Minister to demonstrate financial allegations - which are about 10 years old - against his political opponents. One can imagine, the state has other organisations within the fiscal or economic investigative units to do so. Secondly, the opposition might or might not have been getting loans from POBox-companies, and this in essence is not immediately a criminal offence (given the legal conditions in 2000 it could even be understood, but that is a technicality). What is ironic about the whole matter is that Mr Fico's government has embezzled a multi-fold of millions in dodgy and far from transparent business.
To my knowledge, not only has a Prime Minister other priorities than to go and play a detective in a Swiss bank. According to a yesterday's newspaper web-article - which was the first after 2 weeks of silence - plans better contact with Switzerland - at least in the exchange of bank-information. Apparently, last Thursday, the Prime Minister spoke with Switzerland'w President Doris Leuthard. What do I think of it? I have doubts about the whole thing.
One, it can be hardly imagined, that by next week Fico will be granted full access to bank information. Two, the matter looks like a clear cover-up show, to create mist around his own scandals which outdo all previous governments plus an embarrassing stream of criticism from Brussels. After all, elections are ahead, and the money hungry ministers have a large interest in continuing their activities and stay away from justice - at all costs. Three, when skimming the Swiss newspapers (or any other authoritative financial periodical), one would expect this to be mentioned as well. That a President is discussion another Swiss bank secrecy related matter with a foreign politician would be officially a matter to mention, I would guess. So far, I have found none whatsoever. The last entry on the official pages of the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs on an official visit by a Slovakia's Prime Minister are from 2008, a visit which was cancelled...
Another question which arises in my mind is, the mere fact, that the Swiss President is not formally the head of state - just a rotating one-year primus inter pares within her own department and specifically without any authority over other ministries. Ms Leuthard is leading the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In my view, banking falls usually under Finance.
Compared to Fico, our dear and clumsy Clouseau suddenly looks like a serious and effective professional authority. But perhaps some fresh alpine air would do him some good, to get back to his senses. ... or perhaps not...
One, it can be hardly imagined, that by next week Fico will be granted full access to bank information. Two, the matter looks like a clear cover-up show, to create mist around his own scandals which outdo all previous governments plus an embarrassing stream of criticism from Brussels. After all, elections are ahead, and the money hungry ministers have a large interest in continuing their activities and stay away from justice - at all costs. Three, when skimming the Swiss newspapers (or any other authoritative financial periodical), one would expect this to be mentioned as well. That a President is discussion another Swiss bank secrecy related matter with a foreign politician would be officially a matter to mention, I would guess. So far, I have found none whatsoever. The last entry on the official pages of the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs on an official visit by a Slovakia's Prime Minister are from 2008, a visit which was cancelled...
Another question which arises in my mind is, the mere fact, that the Swiss President is not formally the head of state - just a rotating one-year primus inter pares within her own department and specifically without any authority over other ministries. Ms Leuthard is leading the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In my view, banking falls usually under Finance.
Compared to Fico, our dear and clumsy Clouseau suddenly looks like a serious and effective professional authority. But perhaps some fresh alpine air would do him some good, to get back to his senses. ... or perhaps not...
MS
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