Pellegrini: I Don't Intend to Run for President, I Won't Change My Mind

Bratislava, September 26 (TASR) – Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD) does not intend to run for the post of Slovak president in the elections slated to be held next year, TASR learnt after the Cabinet session on Wednesday.

Pellegrini wants to complete the electoral term as prime minister. According to the premier, the best president would be Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak (a Smer-SD nominee). He further said that the premier has wider opportunities to help people, while the president should be rather a diplomat.

“From the position of prime minister I can see what can be done. The president can go, smile, sign, lay wreaths… But he actually can’t change a law, give money, he can’t really order a minister to do something,” said the premier. At the same time, he stressed that the position of president in Slovakia is representative and that is why the best candidate would be Foreign and European Affairs Minister Lajcak.

“He [the president] is a person who can open doors for Slovakia, our businessmen, delegations, on the most important door handles of the world, which hardly any president in Slovakia has been able to do so far. Miroslav Lajcak would be the best president for the next five, possibly ten years,” stated Pellegrini. Lajcak has repeatedly refused to be a candidate.

The premier also evaluated the six months of his Cabinet. According to him, they are managing to fulfil the three basic priorities – calming down the situation in society, correcting Slovakia’s international image abroad, and building a “friendly state”. “I’m not saying that we’ve succeeded in removing all the problems that are burdening our country in six months, but I hope that no one can object to our efforts,” he said, adding that Slovakia is experiencing the best period since its very beginning.