SNS Insists on Nomination of Filip Kuffa as Environment Minister

Bratislava, 21 October (TASR) - The coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) is insisting on its proposal to nominate Filip Kuffa to the post of environment minister, SNS leader Andrej Danko stated on Wednesday. On behalf of SNS, Danko took objection to President Peter Pellegrini's decision not to appoint Kuffa to the post, underlining that, according to the party's legal opinion, the head of state must respect the nomination submitted by the prime minister and cannot reject it under the Slovak Constitution. "The president underlined that the presumption of innocence exists. But if there's a presumption of innocence, the president must appoint Filip Kuffa tomorrow," Danko told TASR. He said that he isn't aware of Kuffa having been charged or indicted, or of any matter relating to the performance of his duties. "He has a clean record as a citizen, has the relevant qualifications, and nobody can challenge his mandate," added Danko. The SNS leader also accused the president of applying a double standard. He argued that criminal complaints were routinely filed against nominees of other coalition parties, yet nobody has automatically called on them to resign. "There mustn't be two categories of people. I believe that the president won't judge people according to which political party they belong to," he said. SNS also declared its respect for the coalition agreement, the prime minister and the president. It stated that it has "also demonstrated its responsibility in the vote on the state budget". Danko said that the government has a valid role to play amid the current uncertain international situation and is capable of governing even when the coalition partners disagreed on certain issues. Because of this, SNS will maintain its proposed nomination for head of the Environment Ministry. "The only person who could withdraw the proposal from the president is [Prime Minister Robert] Fico. I hope that he won't do so and breach the coalition agreement," said Danko. Kuffa was nominated by SNS for the post of environment minister following an escalation of tensions between then minister Tomas Taraba and the party. The president dismissed Taraba from office on 30 September, a day after Parliament passed a motion of no-confidence in him. The head of state temporarily entrusted the prime minister with running the Environment Ministry. mf/df