Opposition Submits No-confidence Motion in Raz, Calls on Voice-SD to Support It

Bratislava, 24 November (TASR) - The opposition is submitting a no-confidence motion in Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee), representatives of the 'Slovakia'-'For the People' parliamentary caucus, who initiated the motion, stated at a press conference on Monday. The MPs have obtained the more than 30 signatures from all opposition parties that are necessary to convene an extraordinary parliamentary session. House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) is obliged to convene an extraordinary meeting on this motion within seven days. "The main reason is the repeated railway accidents, for which Transport Minister Jozef Raz clearly felt politically responsible, offering his resignation to the prime minister [Robert Fico (Smer-SD)]. However, as you know, the premier didn't accept this offer. Our position is that a resignation is not offered, a resignation is submitted, and if Minister Raz thought that this offer settled the matter, he is greatly mistaken," said opposition MP Gabor Grendel. The Slovak public sees train failures and accidents on a weekly basis, while the government is doing nothing to improve the situation and is only making excuses, said caucus chairman Michal Sipos. The opposition MPs are convinced that this proposal has a chance of success, as representatives of the coalition Voice-SD party have also spoken out in favour of Raz's ouster. "Voice has a unique opportunity to show that it isn't just Smer's failed child, that it can also pursue its own policies, formulate its own positions, and even keep its promises. So here you go, here's a motion to dismiss Minister Raz, and we expect the Voice party to join our no-confidence motion and the minister to be dismissed," added MP Veronika Remisova. am/df