PM Fico Not Disturbed by PG Zilinka's Opinion on Ambulance Tender

Bratislava, 4 November (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) wasn't disturbed by Prosecutor-General (PG) Maros Zilinka's legal opinion that the law was violated regarding the ambulance tender, adding that he considers the matter closed in terms of taking political action against Health Minister Kamil Sasko, the Government Office's press and information department informed TASR on Tuesday. "If I hadn't insisted on scrapping the tender, and if the Health Ministry had proceeded with it, I would have had to dismiss the minister," said Fico, praising Sasko for having a sense of reality and not being influenced by interest groups. "The ambulance service tender was scrapped, no damage was incurred by anyone, and no one was favoured or disadvantaged in violation of the law. I'm doing all I can to make sure that no scandal is linked to this governing coalition," stated Fico, adding that there were many doubts and communication failures associated with the tender. According to Zilinka's post on a social network published earlier on Tuesday, the Health Ministry acted at odds with the law during the tender to select operators of ambulance stations. The ministry told TASR that it would present its comments after receiving the official PG's report on the entire course of the selection process from its announcement. The opposition has called for Sasko's dismissal as minister in connection with the case. The Emergency Medical Services Operations Centre announced a tender to select operators of ambulance stations in May. The opposition and part of the coalition criticised the tender mainly relating to a lack of transparency. The operations centre scrapped it in August. jrg/df