Doubt over whether 'Skok' will enable effective prosecution

Slovenia's government has introduced a significant legislative proposal dubbed "Skok," aiming to establish a robust ecosystem for prosecuting organized crime, white-collar offenses, and corruption. Anže Logar, representing the Democratic Party, presented the bill as a fulfillment of promises to create effective anti-corruption mechanisms. He emphasized that "Skok" is designed to hold all involved parties accountable and improve upon previous, less comprehensive measures.

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Skok is essentially the formation of an ecosystem for the successful and effective prosecution of organized crime, white-collar offenses, and corruption, while also being a framework that demands accountability from all involved.

The proposed law seeks to create a unified chain of command, integrating the National Bureau of Investigation (NPU), the Special State Prosecutor's Office (which would be renamed the Special Prosecutor's Office for the Prosecution of Corruption and Organized Crime, or StKOK), and a new Special Court. This structure is intended to replace existing specialized departments across the country, creating a more cohesive and efficient investigative process.

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The government, with this law, gives everyone in the chain the authority to be effective. Previous measures against the most serious forms of crime and corruption may have been well-intentioned, but they were not comprehensive. I expect that those who are satisfied with the status quo will be strong opponents of the law or will at least express doubt about its adoption.

Justice Minister Mihael Zupančič highlighted the shift to a prosecutorial investigation model, similar to that used by the European Public Prosecutor's Office, as a key measure to significantly shorten legal proceedings. Currently, complex corruption and organized crime cases can take an average of 76 months to reach a first-instance verdict. The new model aims to reduce the time spent on judicial investigation, which currently accounts for about 16 months of the total duration.

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Today we are here to say that with the implementation of Skok, we will no longer wait three years or more for a criminal offense and the accountability of white-collar criminals to be fully investigated.

However, the legislative process has drawn criticism. The opposition has voiced concerns about the bill's text, and judicial bodies are still reviewing it, with initial impressions being described as worrying. Concerns have also been raised regarding the minister's increased discretionary power in appointing the head of the "Skok" initiative and prosecutors, a departure from previous reliance on the State Prosecutor's Council's opinions. This enhanced ministerial authority is a point of contention among legal experts and stakeholders.

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We are creating a single line from the NPU to the court, which are completely within this system.