Slovak PM criticizes buying of land by foreigners

The Slovak Constitution should be amended to protect the country's agricultural and forest land from being bought up by foreigners, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Tuesday at a ceremonial parliamentary session marking Constitution Day.

"Lawmakers in 1992 couldn't have foreseen all aspects of Slovakia's development, so they weren't able to react to all risks that have appeared in the meantime. So I consider as appropriate to open the issue of constitutional protection of agricultural and forest land from being bought up by foreigners," stressed Fico, adding that domestic ownership of agricultural land is an important element in a country's quest for food self-sufficiency.

Fico noted it wasn't as easy for foreigners to buy agricultural land in Denmark, for example. Meanwhile, part of agricultural land in Slovakia is already in the hands of foreigners, he added.

"This can't be tolerated tacitly," added Fico.