Smer-SD Presidium Okays Nominations to New Government
Bratislava, March 21 (TASR) – The Smer-SD presidium on Monday approved the party’s joining of the governing coalition with the Slovak National Party (SNS), Most-Hid and Siet, and also okayed Smer’s nominations for individual government posts, Smer chairman Robert Fico announced on Monday evening.
Fico himself will be the prime minister, while former parliamentary chairman Peter Pellegrini will be given the post of vice-premier for investments. Five current ministers will retain their posts in the new government – Robert Kalinak (Interior), Peter Kazimir (Finance), Miroslav Lajcak (Foreign and European Affairs), Marek Madaric (Culture) and Jan Richter (Labour, Social Affairs and the Family).
Meanwhile, Slovak Post general director Tomas Drucker will become the new health minister, while current Environment Minister will take over the Economy Ministry.
Apart from ministerial posts, the Smer presidium also approved state secretaries for individual ministries: Radko Kuruc and temporarily also Ivan Lesay for the Finance Ministry, Ivan Korcok (Foreign and European Affairs), Denisa Sakova (Interior), Marian Salon (Defence), Vojtech Ferencz and Rastislav Chovanec (both Economy), Branislav Ondrus (Labour, Social Affairs and the Family), Anton Stredak (Agriculture and Rural Development), Ivan Secik (Culture), Erik Tomas (Education, Science, Research and Sport), Boris Susko (Environment), Monika Jankovska (Justice) and Viktor Stromcek (Transport, Construction and Regional Development. Smer’s state secretary for the Health Ministry hasn’t been designated yet.
Fico also confirmed that current Defence Minister Martin Glvac will be nominated for parliamentary vice-chairman and Smer caucus leader.
The coalition agreement between the aforementioned four parties should be signed on Tuesday afternoon, with the outgoing Government to hold its final session in the evening of the same day. The new parliament is scheduled to have its inaugural session on Wednesday. Fico’s current Cabinet will subsequently resign, and the process for inauguration of his third Government will be launched.
