MPs Approve Kazimir as New NBS Governor and Hudak as Vice-governor

MPs Approve Kazimir as New NBS Governor and Hudak as Vice-governor

Bratislava, December 6 (TASR) – Incumbent Finance Minister Peter Kazimir (Smer-SD) will become new Slovak Central Bank (NBS) governor in March, with Parliament approving a Government-sponsored proposal to this effect in a secret vote at its session on Thursday.

A total of 86 out of the 138 MPs present voted in favour of Kazimir, 40 lawmakers were against and 12 abstained from the vote.

At the same time the House approved another Government-sponsored proposal according to which Jozef Hudak, a member of the Slovak National Party (SNS), will become the new NBS vice-governor.

Incumbent NBS governor Jozef Makuch said last week that he will leave his post in March without providing any reasons. Originally, his term was scheduled to expire in 2021. Kazimir expressed interest in the post as well as his intention to leave active politics.

The Opposition criticised the nominations of both Kazimir and Hudak, saying that the former has political affiliation and is arriving directly from the Government, while the latter is a member of SNS and isn’t professionally qualified for the post.

Both Kazimir and Hudak have to be appointed to their posts by the president.