President Kiska Appoints New Government Led by Peter Pellegrini
Bratislava, March 22 (TASR) – Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD) has become the new prime minister of the Slovak Republic, replacing Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in this post. President Andrej Kiska appointed Pellegrini to the post on Thursday. Subsequently, he also appointed the remaining members of the new Government.
Pellegrini has assumed the top executive post after taking an oath prescribed by the Constitution.
As part of the reshuffling of personnel, aside from the new prime minister, Richard Rasi (Smer-SD) has become new vice-premier for investments and informatisation, Tomas Drucker (a Smer-SD nominee) interior minister, Andrea Kalavska (a Smer-SD nominee) health minister, Lubica Lassakova (Smer-SD) culture minister and Gabor Gal (Most-Hid) justice minister.
Other ministries have not seen changes at their helm. Peter Kazimir (Smer-SD) remains the finance minister and concurrently holds a vice-premier post. Miroslav Lajcak (a Smer-SD nominee) remains the Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Peter Ziga (Smer-SD) economy minister and Jan Richter (Smer-SD) the labour, social affairs and the family minister.
Gabriela Matecna (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) remains at the helm of the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, while Peter Gajdos (SNS) continues to lead the Defence Ministry and Martina Lubyova (a SNS nominee) the Education, Science, Research and Sport Ministry. Arpad Ersek (Most-Hid) remains the transport and construction minister and Laszlo Solymos (Most-Hid) the environment minister. Solymos has also become a vice-premier in the new Government.
Subsequently, the new Cabinet will meet at its first session and pass its Government Manifesto. The confidence vote in the new Government in Parliament might take place as soon as on Friday (March 23).
The reshuffling of personnel came as a result of the government crisis that occurred after the murders of journalist Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend, as well as other circumstances including the release of information on top governing politicians’ alleged links to the Calabrian Mafia.
