Election26: Igor Simko to Run for Kosice Region Chair on Behalf of Voice-SD

Kosice, 16 May (TASR) - Igor Simko, a current MP and the government proxy for the elimination of regional disparities and the recovery plan for eastern Slovakia, will run for the post of Kosice region chair in the autumn elections on behalf of the governing Voice-SD party, Interior Minister and Voice-SD leader Matus Sutaj Estok told a press conference on Saturday. "I'm convinced that in the coming years, this very part of Slovakia - Kosice region, eastern Slovakia - could be one of the greatest success stories of development of our entire country. Kosice region has the potential to surpass even Bratislava region in many areas. I'm not saying this just because we're close to the border, which will be even more important in the future than it is today, but because Kosice is at the crossroads of routes leading in all directions. There's strategic space here, people, tradition, and all of this translates into enormous potential for the region's development," said Sutaj Estok, emphasising that Kosice region needs leadership based on cooperation, not on conflicts and political disputes. Simko justified his running by citing the need to bring specific results to the region's administration, better cooperation with the state, and solutions that will have a direct impact on the lives of people in the regions. Simko's campaign platform focuses primarily on supporting regional development, job creation, infrastructure development, the modernisation of public services, and improving the quality of life in all districts of the region. Former economy minister Karel Hirman (Democrats), Kosice vice-mayor and regional councillor Lucia Gurbalova (Christian Democrats/KDH), Dzemal Kodrazi (Independent), and Marian Porvaznik (Progressive Slovakia) have announced that they will run for the post of Kosice region chair. Rastislav Trnka is currently serving his second term as regional governor. am