BRATISLAVA, September 21, (WEBNOVINY) – Prime Minister Iveta Radicova will have to solve a dilemma today which will very quickly show whether she is a strong prime minister or only a speaker of this government without any influence. If she is strong, she will dismiss not just state secretaries Martin Chren (SaS) and Ivan Svejna (MOST-HID), but also Economy Minister Juraj Miskov, said at a news briefing her predecessor and chairman of the opposition SMER-SD Robert Fico. According to him, if Radicova accepts the current situation and back down, she would create a precedent on the basis of which a contract for EUR 8,000 is acceptable today, which tomorrow may be EUR 8 million and on the following day EUR 8 billion. Fico added that Radicova will now show whether she is a doughface or a person who took the responsibility for managing the Slovak government. If she does not dismiss the state secretaries and draw any consequences towards the Economy Minister, she will all respect of the party SMER-SD, said Fico.
The Coalition Council on Tuesday should also deal with state secretaries Martin Chren (SaS) and Ivan Svejna (MOST-HID) who should explain their role in the company Hayek Consulting. This company was awarded a state contract at the time when its co-owners already have been state secretaries in the new government. Prime Minister Radicova called this as a conflict of interest last week. She gave to the chairman of SaS Richard Sulik and chairman of Most-Hid Bela Bugar until Monday to resolve the matter. They both stood up for their nominees. Radicova should inform the coalition partners about her decision at the Coalition Council meeting on Tuesday.
Hayek Consulting is prepared to defend its activities and its good name in court. Its authorized representatives Matus Posvanc and Ivona Holzerova announced this on Monday after „increasing pressure of the media and continual attacks against the company connected to current political activities of its former minority owners.“
SITA