Sutaj Estok: Voice-SD Has Several Options to Replace Kmec as Vice-Premier

Bratislava, 18 November (TASR) - The coalition Voice-SD party has several suitable candidates to replace Vice-Premier for the Recovery Plan and a Knowledge-based Economy Peter Kmec (Voice-SD), Interior Minister and Voice-SD leader Matus Sutaj Estok told a press briefing on Tuesday, adding that Kmec will return to Parliament where he could become the head of the parliamentary European affairs committee, TASR reported on the same day. "We have several alternatives in Voice-SD and I even dare say that we have a high-quality membership base, so the candidate will be someone who is a member of Voice-SD. There are several options," said Sutaj Estok. Kmec resigned on Saturday (15 November) after controversies surrounding research and development grant calls worth €200 million. The opposition criticised the allocation of grants to companies with no history, no employees, or with ties to the Voice-SD party. However, Kmec rejected the alleged non-transparency of the process. Sutaj Estok reiterated that the call has been suspended, with an internal audit ordered to take place. "If there are any findings, I have no problem with the call being cancelled, and if the audit shows that the process was set up transparently, the call will go ahead," added Sutaj Estok. According to him, Kmec will return to Parliament after President Peter Pellegrini accepts his resignation. "I think he is a person with extensive experience in international politics, he understands the workings of the European Union, and I think we will be able to use his expertise in Parliament," said Sutaj Estok. Although the Voice-SD party presidium is yet to decide on the possibility of proposing Kmec for the post of parliamentary committee head, Sutaj Estok believes there's no better candidate for this post. jrg