Should the Prime Minister of the SR Robert Fico (Smer-SD) come forward with the intention of personnel changes in the cabinet, the President of the SR Peter Pellegrini is ready to discuss themhowever, the prime minister has not yet shown such interest. The head of state confirmed this in the STVR talk show Sobotné dialogy.
In response to the prime minister’s hints about the possibility of government reconstruction, the head of state thinks that a year and a half before the elections is still enough time for such changes to make sense. “There is still a lot of time before the elections, a lot of work can still be done,” pointed out Pellegrini. At the same time, he pointed out that the prime minister must come to a decision.
“If the Prime Minister feels that one of the departments needs a stronger impulse, that some ministry should gain more momentum and a new minister should do it, he has the right to propose a change at any time,” he declared. He declared that if Fico comes up with a proposal for personnel changes, he will discuss it with him. “It must be said that so far the prime minister has not spoken to me about the reconstruction of the government,” he added.
At the same time, the President called on the voters to vote for their representatives in the autumn municipal elections according to the results of their work, or to choose new mayors and mayors. He does not want this election to become party politics. “I don’t think that we should push municipal elections by force into the fact that it should be a fight between the opposition and the coalition,” he emphasized and reminded that the winners of these elections are often independent candidates. According to him, people should choose “really good” representatives and not the opposition or coalition. He does not want politicians to make the municipal elections the “first test” before the parliamentary elections.
In the session, he also addressed the necessity of improving the quality of the legislative process and removing unpredictability from it in the form of adopting a number of laws through abbreviated legislative proceedings or the so-called stickers to laws. “I also talked about it with the prime minister, I know that he also called on the ministers of the government to approach the creation of legislation with greater consistency and preparedness by the competent ones in the ministries within the departments.” highlighted.
He also briefly addressed the geopolitical situation and Euro-Atlantic relations. He admitted that the present is marked by the “erosion of relations” between the US and Europe, also in connection with the events and reactions to the conflict in Iran and Ukraine. “The answer to this must be a more confident attitude of Europe,” emphasized Pellegrini. He believes that the European Union must start formulating an authentic and more self-confident policy that will strengthen its place among global players. “And, of course, that also means trying on the part of Europe to end the war in Europe diplomatically as quickly as possible,” he emphasized.
Pellegrini also believes that the upcoming elections in Hungary will not worsen the Slovak-Hungarian relations that have been built up over the years. “I would be very unhappy if, in the event of a change of government in Hungary, it took a stand towards Slovakia in the same way as the previous Czech government, which theatrically cut off contacts and joint negotiations,” said Pellegrini. The President is convinced that it is important to have good neighborly relations, even as a result of the current tense geopolitical situation.
