Kalavska Still Considering Her Resignation, Has Prime Minister's Support

Bratislava, December 5 (TASR) - Health Minister Andrea Kalavska (a Smer-SD nominee) is still considering whether or not to stay in her post, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD) announced after meeting her on Thursday. Pellegrini would like Kalavska to stay and voiced his unequivocal support to her. He hopes that the minister, who's gearing up to step down over the withdrawal of hospital reform, would reconsider her stance. "Health Minister Andrea Kalavska met with Mr. Prime Minister earlier today to tender her resignation. Mr. Prime Minister asked Ms. Minister to stay in her post and the health minister is still considering what to do," TASR was told by ministry spokesperson Zuzana Eliasova. Pellegrini expressed his full support for Kalavska and doesn't perceive the decision to withdraw the reform from Parliament as her failure. "On the contrary, I view Ms. Minister as the right person in the right place," he claimed, adding that Kalavska has put in an enormous amount of work in the ministry and there's still more to be done by the end of the elected term. The Prime Minister views Kalavska's offer of resignation as a demonstration of high political culture. "But I asked her to reconsider and stay to serve Slovak patients and health care. I think that's the best decision that Ms. Minister can take," stated Pellegrini, adding that he understands her disappointment and thus wasn't even angered by her decision. mf/mcs/am