Lajcak Divines No Rationality from Parliament, Ready to Resign

Lajcak Divines No Rationality from Parliament, Ready to Resign

Marrakech/Bratislava, November 28 (TASR) – Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak (a Smer-SD nominee) confirmed that he hasn’t reconsidered his decision to resign if Slovakia chooses not to attend talks on the UN Global Compact on Migration in Marrakech, TASR learnt on Wednesday.

Speaking before the Government session on Wednesday, Lajcak claimed that he divines no sense of rationality from Parliament.

“I’m not fighting with anyone, but I want to stand in harmony with my conscience. My decision hasn’t shifted,” Lajcak told reporters when asked whether Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD) had convinced him that Slovakia shouldn’t participate in the Marrakech talks.

Lajcak reiterated that he’s willing to tender his resignation over the issue. “Here, two things are clashing: my responsibility to the ministry and tasks ahead of us, but also the need to be in harmony with myself. I cannot do my job, if I don’t believe in what I’m doing or if I don’t see that I’ve got the room to do what we consider right,” he claimed.

The minister didn’t comment on the Parliament’s Tuesday (November 27) decision to withdraw the National Security Strategy and National Defence Strategy from its agenda. “The decision is fully up to the coalition parties and coalition leaders now. We did our job and stand behind our work. And the rest I’ll leave to Parliament at this point,” said Lajcak.

Lajcak described the media reports of Smer-SD chair Robert Fico likely gearing up to replace him as the chief of diplomacy as nothing but speculation.

The UN Global Compact on Migration continues to divide the political scene in Slovakia. A number of political parties are rejecting it, with junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) insisting on a resolution that would have Parliament ask the Government to repudiate it. SNS also insists on Slovakia not attending the talks in Marrakech. Lajcak harbours the conviction that Slovakia should go to Marrakech, if only to present its stance.