BRATISLAVA, December 4, (SITA) – Incumbent KDH chairman Jan Figel will remain on the post four more years. This is the result of Saturday’s twentieth party congress, held in Bratislava. Figel won 301 votes of the 334 delegates present. His term in office, as well as of other officials will be four years instead of the present two years, based on the approved change in statutes.
At the congress, Jan Figel stated that attacks at the KDH party are often unfair. “We do not work for patrons. We care about purification of the public life, sober patriotism. I am proud of the achieved change,” he said.
The ruling coalition is currently struggling with a crisis of internal trust. “It can not work like this,” Figel said. He went on to say he was sorry about the position of some KDH deputies, who did not support the Cabinet’s draft to increase the excise tax on beer. “It is a mistake that must not happen again,” he announced. The KDH chairman pointed out that the election of new prosecutor general is apparently the main problem. “Six coalition deputies voted against the coalition’s agreement. The coalition must not fail in such an important vote, in which the state’s character is at stake. Who is in power here? Transparent politicians, or interests in the background, or financial groups?” he asked.
Jan Figel, who is also the Transport Minister, said that the previous government led by Robert Fico left behind an unfulfilled ambitions plan of highway construction. “I want a cheaper construction of highways. The second package of PPP projects is underway. The third package is waiting for the Cabinet’s decision. We have reduced the price of the third package, but not at the expense of the construction, but at the expense of profit of banks and firms”, he said.
Jan Figel replaced Pavol Hrusovky on the post of KDH leader in 2009.