Opposition members of the National Council (NR) of the Slovak Republic reproach the Minister of the Interior Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Voice-SD) for he did not show up for a special meeting on Monday to try to recall him. They criticize him for not showing up to explained the problems in his department, but he had time to participate in the Formula 1 race abroad over the weekend.
“Minister Šutaj Eštok was not present, who did not even participate in yesterday’s government meeting, where very important matters were discussed, the issue of health workers. The minister instead went to Abu Dhabi for Formula 1,” MP Marián Čaučík (KDH) commented on the situation. He considers negotiations on Mondays to be unfortunate, because some deputies are negotiating in the regions at councils or are on foreign trips.
Member of Parliament and ex-Minister of the Interior Roman Mikulec (Slovakia, For the People, KÚ) considers the minister’s non-participation to be insolence towards all voters in Slovakia also towards the police officers who are leaving the Police Force in large numbers. He reminded that many other components of the Ministry of the Interior are dissatisfied. According to him, the minister coughs up problems and goes on trips instead.
According to the head of the PS parliamentary club, Martin Dubéci, the Minister of the Interior confirmed that he is unable to defend his job. He called his actions undignified. Dubéci could not yet say whether the PS will again file a motion for the dismissal of Šutaj Eštok.
According to Mária Kolíková (SaS), several ministers are taking steps that could lead to their dismissal. “Whether it’s the Minister of Culture, who blocks cultural institutions, or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who absolutely subverts the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leaves room there for representatives who spread Russian propaganda.” she stated. According to her, not re-opening the meeting to recall the Minister of the Interior is silencing the opposition.
At the beginning of the extraordinary session on Monday, the Parliament did not have a quorum for the proposal to recall the Minister of the Interior, even on the second attempt. Not enough MPs showed up. Parliament will try to open the session again on Tuesday (10/12) morning. The coalition had already announced in advance that it would not support the opening of the meeting, because the original opposition proposal for a vote of no confidence in Šutaj Eštok has already been moved to February.
