Mr Lipsic and the right are having a lot of fun with Fico's new-found opposition to the death penalty
Government Is against Death Penalty
The Slovak governing Coalition agrees with the European Union that the death sentence handed down to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein by an Iraqi court on November 5 shouldn't be carried out, Sme daily reports. Prime Minister Robert Fico said that the death penalty is unacceptable for Slovakia as a member of the EU. His stance has been backed by other representatives of the governing Coalition, but former justice minister and Christian Democrat (KDH) MP Daniel Lipsic has sharply criticised the prime minister. "Robert Fico used to be a supporter of the death penalty. He has changed his stance only to please the European Socialists," claimed Lipsic. Source: Radio Slovakia International
He does appear to have softened. Here's his programme as described in the Slovak Spectator back when he was getting started in 2000:
Direction's programme is not yet clear - "we are neither leftist nor rightist nor liberal" said Fico at the party's first rally on November 11 - although its leader's recent statements on Slovak Romanies have been criticized by government officials as bordering on racist sentiments. Fico has also come out in support of a death penalty in Slovakia, as well as restricted access to social benefits. He has said he would like prisoners to pay for their upkeep in Slovak prisons. Source: Slovak Spectator
Of course, it could be that Fico hasn't changed his opinion but is finally getting with the common European foreign policy. Most leaders oppose the death penalty so he has to go along with it. And as the chances of saving the butcher of Baghdad are minimal, it's not really anything he has to worry about. One might well snark that as a combatative puritain and eternal dissident Mr Lipsic will find it easy to stick to his principles but how else but by compromise is Europe going to get to a common policy and actually have some weight in the world.
Having said that, I think the death penalty is not necessarily bad in this case. The biggest objection to it is uncertainty as to guilt. If someone is executed by mistake we can't bring them back. But there can be no mistaking about SH. Then there is that argument about us losing our moral character through executing him. Well, considering we killed thousands of Iraqi civilians to get at him, it seems a little strange to keep the man alive (this is discussed with considerably more flair by Chris Dillow on Stumbling and Mumbling). Of course, some people think "prison for natural life" is actually the crueller punishment and there's something in that, Sadam Hussein slowly going mad in a tiny box, utterly dependent on his jailers, longing for the rescue that never comes... Brrr.
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