Stromcek Rejects Media Speculation on Causes of Resignation

Stromcek Rejects Media Speculation on Causes of Resignation

Trebisov/Bratislava, May 5 (TASR) – Viktor Stromcek, a former deputy transport minister and Government representative for major investments, asked the Smer-SD party to release him from the post of its general manager at a party presidium session last week, while the Smer top body didn’t discuss his possible successor, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD) said on the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting in Trebisov (Kosice region) on Wednesday.


Meanwhile, Stromcek, speaking to TASR on Wednesday, rejected as speculation the claims in the media that his resignation was due to the alleged discovery of an instant messaging conversation dating two years ago between him and businessman Marian K. – now charged with ordering the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée – in which he, according to TV Markiza, revealed the names of an investigator and a prosecutor in a certain criminal case.

“I announced back in 2015 that after the largest investment project in Central Europe is finished, I’d leave public life for the private sphere in 2018. Following an agreement with the Smer-SD presidium in the autumn of last year, I postponed my departure from politics until after the presidential election takes place [in March 2019] and is evaluated,” said Stromcek, adding that he actually left the post of Smer general manager on April 30.

Pellegrini stated that Stromcek at the party presidium last week didn’t mention the alleged conversation with Marian K. “even in a single word”.

Stromcek became Smer’s general manager last year.