Pellegrini Fulfilling Mission of President Just Like He Should, Claim Ministers

Bratislava, 13 June (TASR) - President Peter Pellegrini is carrying out the mission of the head of state, acts in a balanced manner, and is a stabilising element for society, cabinet ministers have concurred when evaluating Pellegrini's first year in office. "I perceive his work very positively. He can express his opinion on both sides. This is how a president should function," stressed Vice-premier and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD). Another Vice-premier, Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) also evaluates Pellegrini's performance in the post very positively. "He carries out his mandate autonomously, exactly like he declared he would do, he isn't an intermediary for the opposition in the fight against the government. On the other hand, he's able to say things that are not in line with the government at all, but that's how a president should be," emphasised Taraba, who also appreciates the respect that Pellegrini enjoys abroad. Matus Sutaj Estok, Interior Minister and Pellegrini's successor in the post of Voice-SD party leader, is convinced that the current top constitutional official is "on the right path" to becoming the best president in Slovakia's history. "He strives to ease the tension in society, although it's not easy at all in today's era of full polarisation," stressed Sutaj Estok. According to him, the president's statements, as well as his decisions when vetoing laws, clearly attest to the fact that Pellegrini is actually non-partisan in the presidential post. ko/df