Slovakia's ruling Smer-SD proposes new cabinet

Slovakia's ruling Smer-SD proposes new cabinet
By bne IntelliNews March 20, 2018

Peter Pellegrini has proposed a non-partisan as minister of interior in an effort to secure the approval of Slovak President Andrej Kiska for his new government, and calm down the situation after huge protests on March 16 sparked by the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak in February. 

Pellegrini, who was authorised by Kiska to form a new government after the resignation of Robert Fico who has long dominated Slovak politics, handed over a list of new ministers on March 19. The new government proposal has, apart from Pellegrini himself, four new faces.

The most important cabinet seat to watch for the public and the opposition is the interior ministry. Pellegrini proposed non-partisan Jozef Raz Jr., a son of famous Slovak signer Joza Raz and current general secretary at the health ministry's service office.

"I made a few commitments to myself when I took my mandate. These include the fact that the key posts with the potential to polarise society would be filled by people who will be given a chance to calm the situation down," said Pellegrini.

However, it is doubtful whether this name can actually de-escalate the situation. The strongest opposition party, the rightwing Eurosceptic Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), was quick to denounce the nomination of Raz.

"Just as Robert Fico has his own Pellegrini, [ex-interior minister] Robert Kalinak has his own Raz. Jozef Raz is his personal friend and right-hand man. The Freedom and Solidarity party doesn't believe that he can ensure a proper investigation into the double murder that has shaken Slovakia," said a party spokeswomen Katarina Svrcekova, referring to the deaths of Kuciak and his fiancee. 

The proposal has also been strongly criticised by the Slovak media. Commentary in Dennik N, for example, disputes that Raz' nomination will calm down the street and says it ignores the wishes of the protesters, who gathered in an astonishing 65,000 in Bratislava alone on March 16. 

However, there is no demonstration announced for this coming Friday, March 23, yet and there has been no statement from the organisers on the proposed new cabinet so far.

Pellegrini, meanwhile, defended his choice, saying he doesn’t think that the name of Jozef Raz is controversial. “I believe I am going to the president with nominations that should not raise any aversion,” Pellegrini told a news conference after a Smer leadership meeting.

“We decided to pick a non-partisan [for the interior ministry]. That gives us a chance that he will not be just an expert but will also bring calm in these complicated times and not raise suspicions of pushing someone’s party interests,” Pellegrini added.

In order to have at least some chance of success with the nomination, Pellegrini knew very well that the new interior minister has to at least appear impartial. “If we proposed the best candidate that would be a Smer party member, it would raise passions and it would be a handicap even if it was the best candidate we had,” he said.

Other changes concern the posts of deputy prime minister, minister of culture and justice minister. Current Kosice mayor Richard Rasi was proposed for the post of deputy prime minister for investments and information. The ministry of culture is set to be headed by an incumbent Smer-SD regional head in Banska Bystrica, Lubica Lass, and for justice minister, the current Most-Hid caucus head Gabor Gal was listed.

Former justice minister and vice chair of Most-Hid, the centrist largely ethnic Hungarian party, Lucia Zitnanska said earlier that she won’t be part of the government.

"I can't see any problems with the names. I have my own experience in the government with both ministers, who will remain in their positions. I've also known MP Gal for years from parliament. He's a man who is able to hold the post of justice minister with dignity," commented Pellegrini on the Most-Hid proposal.

The second coalition party, the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS), didn’t announce any changes. “I know all three ministers, I confirm that I personally, as well as the Smer-SD party and I expect also the Most-Hid party, don't have any reservations against the SNS's personnel proposal," said Pellegrini.

"It is now the president's turn to go further in line with the Constitution and the laws and respond to this proposal within the time that suits him," concluded Pellegrini, adding that all of the members of the new government have his full support. 

Kiska is expected to make a decision on whether to approve the ministerial changes by March 20.

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