MPs Fail to Open Session on Sutaj Estok's Ouster, Motion Shifted to May Session

Bratislava, 24 April (TASR) - Parliament failed to open a special session with a no-confidence motion in Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) as the sole point on the agenda also on Friday, as only 50 lawmakers presented themselves at the second attempt, which wasn't enough for the House to be quorate. The motion to dismiss the interior minister will be included in the agenda of the next regular House session, due to begin on 26 May. MPs will continue in the ongoing regular session in about half an hour. The no-confidence motion was initiated by the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party with the support of other opposition parties. The opposition argued that a number of decisions and steps have been taken during Sutaj Estok's tenure as minister that have raised 'serious doubts' about adherence to the rule of law, the stability and professionalism of the Police Corps, the transparency and predictability of the ministry's management, and the preservation of public trust in security institutions. The minister has rejected the criticism. According to him, the opposition is incapable of coming up with anything other than a motion to dismiss him. He reproached it for the failure to offer any solutions or a better vision for Slovakia. ko