KDH and PS Criticise Matecna's Appointment as Envi Ministry's State Secretary

Bratislava, February 6 (TASR) - Gabriela Matecna's (Slovak National Party/SNS) appointment as the third state secretary of the Environment Ministry looks like another sample of political nepotism, stated the opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) on Tuesday. KHD MP Marian Caucik called it a return to the times when party membership was the best qualification for top state posts. "Appointing Gabriela Matecna as state secretary is a bad signal sent out by the Slovak government. Matecna's performance at the Agriculture Ministry was accompanied by several scandals, such as the Stock Farmer case, or problems with payout of money from the Agricultural Payment Agency (PPA)," stated Caucik, adding it's in direct conflict with the government's promises on professional governance of the country. According to opposition MP Tamara Stohlova (Progressive Slovakia/PS), Matecna's nomination with a history of anti-nature attitudes raises fears that the interests of the environment will be pushed even back further at the ministry. Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a SNS nominee) is thus completing the ministry's transformation into anything but the Environment Ministry. Stohlova also pointed to the Stock Farmer case that took place during Matecna's tenure at the Agriculture Ministry and is connected to the charged oligarch Martin Kvietik. The government appointed Matecna as the third state secretary of the Environment Ministry on Tuesday. She was nominated for the post by SNS. ko/mcs