Sutaj Estok: SNS Leader's Conflict with President Unnecessary

Bratislava, 2 January (TASR) - Coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko should focus on his own policies, as a conflict with President Peter Pellegrini is unnecessary, coalition Voice-SD leader and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok has said in response to journalists' questions, TASR reported on Friday. "If we're calling for society to calm down, if we're saying that this coalition won trust partly because it wouldn't quarrel among itself, then our voters certainly don't expect us to argue even with the president," said Sutaj Estok, adding that while he himself may also have reservations about some of the president's decisions, they are always able to discuss them. "Our goal should be to unite society, not divide it further with the unnecessary disputes and conflicts that the SNS leader is trying to stir up," said Sutaj Estok in connection with how society is divided, in particular after the presidential election, when the nation split into the "Korcok camp" and the "Pellegrini camp". [Ivan Korcok was Pellegrini's rival in the 2024 presidential election - ed. note]. Sutaj Estok added that there's no crossover of voters switching between the two camps. Danko said in his New Year address that he's lost confidence in Pellegrini both as a politician and as a person. He also called for the unification of national, Christian and social forces ahead of the municipal and regional elections. "In the municipal elections, Smer, Voice, SNS, Republic and many other parties must join forces. We must create slates that will resist liberal madness," added Danko. jrg/df