Fico: Hatred Is Bad Political Platform, Kalinak Has Our Full Support
Bratislava, June 7 (TASR) – Hatred is a very bad political platform with an ugly face, said Prime Minister Robert Fico at an extraordinary parliamentary session on Tuesday that was initiated by the Opposition in an attempt to dismiss Interior Minister Robert Kalinak over his alleged involvement in the Basternak case.
The Cabinet rejects the idea of dismissing Kalinak from his post. “I regret that in such a short period after the Cabinet was set up there’s so much hatred and aversion towards the Government. We didn’t expect to have the 100 days that are traditionally at one’s disposal, but we also didn’t expect to be so unreasonably attacked during our preparations for Slovakia’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. It’s unprecedented that we’re being attacked with a motion for the dismissal of a Cabinet member within the first 100 days – a motion that is based on some made-up facts and matters that have nothing to do with reality,” said Fico.
Fico emphasised that Kalinak is the longest-serving interior minister in Slovakia’s modern history. “He was present for an enormous amount of activities. He’s in the right place and has the full support of this Government. It’s one of the toughest posts in the Cabinet,” said the premier, who mentioned Kalinak’s successes with admission to the Schengen area, setting up the Electronic Marketplace, introducing public administration reform (ESO), modernising firefighting and rescue equipment and many others.
The premier sees the Opposition’s move as a misuse of a case in favour of a political struggle. “The case is being properly investigated. The minister isn’t superior to investigators, nor can he intervene in an investigation. Let’s stop this nonsensical spectacle. Let’s talk about what we’re going to do if Britain decides to leave the EU,” stressed Fico.
According to Fico, everyone evaluates the situation in Slovakia from their own point of view, but if we look around, we can say that Slovakia is an oasis of peace and serenity. “The state is functioning, it achieves decent results in the economic, social and financial spheres, and we’d like to put ourselves out there with a superior EU presidency,” declared Fico.
“I’d appreciate it if this session didn’t sink to rock bottom, but I’m afraid that it will and that it will go beyond the limits of political culture. I regret that very much,” stated Fico.
Daniel Lipsic (OLaNO-NOVA) explained to Fico that the Government has 100 days when it comes to the Government Manifesto and not for covering tax fraud and people close to the Cabinet. Lipsic also said that the absolute rock bottom is when a speaker doesn’t want to hear reactions to his performance.
OLaNO-NOVA leader Igor Matovic asked rhetorically who was spreading hatred during the election campaign, implying that it was Fico and his Smer-SD party.
