Opposition Slams Coalition for Blocking No-Confidence Debate on Health Minister

Bratislava, 13 August (TASR) – The opposition has criticised the failure to open a special emergency session of Parliament aimed at dismissing Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) on Wednesday, accusing coalition MPs of arrogance and dereliction of duty. The opposition leaders spoke to journalists in Parliament after the session was unable to proceed due to the absence of a quorum. They reiterated their demand for Sasko's removal, citing a controversial €2-billion tender for ambulance service licences that has now been cancelled. "Sasko doesn't have the courage to defend himself in Parliament, just as he didn't have the courage to face the public or the press when announcing the cancellation of this scandalous tender. Coalition MPs again failed to show up for work – this is the height of arrogance," said Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Simecka, who was joined by party colleague MP Oskar Dvorak in criticising the minister. Dvorak warned that Slovakia could face lawsuits from participants affected by the cancelled tender and stressed the need for full transparency in publishing its results. Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) chair Branislav Groehling also criticised Sasko, adding that he had expected his resignation. He additionally accused Interior Minister and Voice-SD leader Matus Sutaj Estok of failing to publicly address the controversy, warning that the matter is far from resolved. The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) echoed these concerns. "It is deeply disappointing that coalition MPs failed to attend this session despite this being the government's biggest scandal," said KDH MP Peter Stachura. Alongside party chairman Frantisek Majersky, he called for Sasko's dismissal. Majersky also revealed that he filed a criminal complaint regarding the tender on Wednesday. Michal Sipos, head of the parliamentary caucus of 'Slovakia', For the People, and Christian Union, said that coalition MPs were "burying their heads in the sand". "They have no answers, they know it's a disaster, and they are completely ignoring the democratic rights of the opposition. Slovakia may end up paying four billion euros for this pointless tender," he said, predicting that Sasko may be quietly removed from office, as was former minister Zuzana Dolinkova. Parliament failed to deliberate on the motion of no confidence on Wednesday due to the lack of a quorum. MPs will attempt to reopen the session on Thursday, 14 August. The opposition initiated the motion in response to the tender, which was intended to allocate operating permits for ambulance emergency services. In response to the controversy, Minister Sasko said that he wouldn't tolerate scandals or business "rackets". He asked the Prosecutor-General’s Office to investigate the legality of the tender process. The tender was officially cancelled on Wednesday by the Emergency Medical Services Operational Centre. mf/df