Slovak opposition challenged the law on highways at the Constitutional Court

Bratislava - A group of opposition MPs today challenged the recently approved controversial law at the Slovak Constitutional Court, which allows the state to build highways on private land without the owners' consent. Representatives from three opposition parties informed journalists about this. The part of the law that the coalition government of Robert Fico pushed through in December is considered unconstitutional by the opposition, which is why the court is being asked to suspend the effectiveness of some of its provisions.
    "The submitted proposal to the Constitutional Court does not contest the entire law, but only that part which we believe is in conflict with the constitution," said today the MP for the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) Gábor Gál.
    "The Constitutional Court should decide on the proposal within weeks, to prevent an infringement of constitutional rights in an irreparable manner," stated former Minister of Justice and MP of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) Daniel Lipšic. If such a law were deemed to be in accordance with the constitution, then the property rights of every citizen would be at risk, he added.
    According to the new law, construction of a road on private land can commence even without the owner's consent. If the owner is unwilling to agree to the sale of the land, the state will expropriate it. However, the compensation will only need to be presented during the construction approval process, whereas previously it had to be resolved before construction began.
    Prime Minister Fico's government aims to accelerate the construction of highways in Slovakia, planning to build more than 150 kilometers of roads through so-called public-private partnership projects (PPP projects). The cabinet has committed to connecting Bratislava with Košice by highway by 2010.
    The approved law applies only to specific selected road sections on this route and to additional dozens of kilometers of the R1 expressway from Nitra to Banská Bystrica. The adopted norm is intended to enable faster administrative preparation of construction so that work can begin this spring.
    The National Highway Company (NDS), which is responsible for highway construction, plans to apply to the authorities for construction permits for selected sections of the D1 highway and the R1 road later this month.
    Slovakia has already launched two tenders for the construction of roads with private funds. Six candidates applied for the tender for private construction and operation of certain sections of the D1 highway, and a second tender has already been announced for the construction of around 500 kilometers of the R1 expressway.