Opposition Questions President's Double Standards Over Kuffa Nomination

Bratislava, 21 October (TASR) – Slovakia's opposition blames President Peter Pellegrini of applying a double standard in his decision on the nomination of Filip Kuffa as environment minister, with some opposition parties calling for Kuffa to step down as deputy environment minister. Igor Matovic, leader of the 'Slovakia' party, and Veronika Remisova, who chairs the 'For the People' party, said the president should take a tougher stance on other nominees put forward by the governing coalition. Progressive Slovakia (PS) chair Michal Simecka said Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has lost the last remnants of his authority as a result. SaS MP Alojz Hlina challenged at a news conference whether Kuffa could remain deputy minister following the president's statements. The extra-parliamentary Democrats said they would welcome Kuffa's withdrawal from public life. Matovic pointed out that people in senior state administration positions are not only suspected of crimes and under investigation, but also face trial, while the president has raised concerns only about Kuffa. "They used and abused him in votes on the budget and other dirty laws for which they needed his support. Now that they no longer need him, they are throwing him overboard," Matovic stated about SNS head Andrej Danko who backs Kuffa's nomination. The 'Slovakia' leader also views the president's decision as an admission that nominees of the current governing coalition were committing criminal offences. Remisova said the president's decision appeared politically motivated. "Today, the president has informed Slovakia that the police are investigating a whole series of criminal offences at the Environment Ministry – manipulation of public procurement and auction procedures, mismanagement of state assets and money laundering. This is neither a coincidence nor an isolated failure. This is a system and a reflection of the entire government, which hands out state positions as patronage in return for loyalty in Parliament," she said. Simecka claimed on social media that the prime minister has lost the last remnants of his authority. "First, he defended Environment Minister Tomas Taraba, whom we removed from office. He then proposed Filip Kuffa as his replacement. The president has now refused to appoint him because of serious suspicions of criminal activity," Simecka pointed out. Fico has failed to resolve the coalition crisis on his second attempt, he added. Hlina questioned whether Kuffa could remain deputy minister following the president's statements. "Not as a minister, because there are certain circumstances, but as a deputy minister, yes," he remarked. Hlina said the government, which appoints and dismisses deputy ministers, should also have been called upon to act, adding that Kuffa should leave his post. He described Kuffa's nomination as minister as shameful and irresponsible. He also said the president should disclose the information he has received about Kuffa. The Democrats called for Kuffa to leave public life immediately. However, they said the president has also acted evasively and should have clearly rejected Kuffa's nomination. mf