PS: Fico Cares Less about Public Health Than His Court Conspiracy Theorist

Bratislava, 27 August (TASR) - Opposition MP Oskar Dvorak (Progressive Slovakia/PS) has voiced harsh criticism of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) over Fico's declaration of continued support for Government Proxy for Investigation into the COVID-19 Pandemic Management Peter Kotlar despite the results of an analysis into mRNA vaccine safety by the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) that has refuted Kotlar's claims, TASR learnt on Wednesday. Dvorak pointed out that Fico earlier claimed that Kotlar would be removed "only over his dead body". "He clearly cares less about public health than about keeping a lucrative post for his court conspiracy theorist," said Dvorak, who warned that the purchase of vaccines against new COVID-19 variants remains blocked due to Kotlar's actions. In addition, Dvorak criticised the passivity of Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD). "If even a clear rebuttal of Kotlar's fantastical delusions by Slovakia's highest scientific authority is not enough for him to stand up for Slovak patients, then he has no business being in his post," he stated. Another opposition MP and former health minister (2020-21) Marek Krajci ('Slovakia'-For the People- Christian Union alliance), also questioned the prime minister’s conduct. "Robert Fico paid €350,000 from public money for an analysis by scientists from the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and now he isn't interested in it because it didn't turn out the way he wanted. Why didn't he order such an analysis from a certified EU laboratory instead, which would have been cheaper?" asked Krajci. The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) likewise criticised the government for ignoring the Slovak Academy of Sciences' report and demanded Kotlar's dismissal. "The analysis of the safety of COVID-19 vaccines by the Slovak Academy of Sciences was once again not discussed by the government. It isn't even scheduled for next week's cabinet session. What is the government waiting for? What is it trying to achieve?," asked KDH leader Milan Majersky. Majersky added that by continuing to pander to Kotlar, the government led by Fico is becoming fully complicit in spreading disinformation and in the serious consequences that will follow. According to KDH MP Frantisek Majersky, the prime minister is defending the government proxy solely to maintain his parliamentary majority. mf/df