Slovakian President rejects proposed government shuffle

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Slovakia's President Andrej Kiska refused Tuesday to approve the new government proposed by acting Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, whose predecessor quit in a scandal over the murder of a journalist.

“(Pellegrini) has to convince (people) that the new government will bring about changes that we are expecting. He has to create a stable government, whose composition, especially at the interior ministry, will be able to calm the tense atmosphere in our society,” Kiska said.

Slovak President Andrej Kiska (R) hands over the certificate of appointment to Peter Pellegrini (L) to form a new government after the resignation of the Slovakian Prime Minister in Bratislava, March 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

"I told him I would not appoint the cabinet line-up that he has proposed," Kiska told reporters. He said he had given Pellegrini until Friday to propose a new team.

Pellegrini on Monday presented his cabinet, choosing a non-partisan official for interior minister in a bid to quell a public backlash triggered by the murder of a journalist probing corruption.

"For key government positions that have the potential of polarizing society, we wanted to nominate people who will be able to calm the situation," he told reporters.

Pellegrini was chosen last week to lead a three-party coalition government in place of close ally Robert Fico, who resigned after the journalist's death sparked anti-government protests and raised fresh concern about media freedom and corruption.

Outgoing Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico speaks after tendering his resignation to the president as his successor Peter Pellegrini looks on, at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia, March 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, both 27, were found shot dead last month in their home near Bratislava.

Police said Kuciak's death was "most likely" related to his investigation into alleged ties between top politicians and Italian mafia.

Fico will continue to chair the Smer-SD party, whose deputy is Pellegrini, leading analysts to believe the outgoing premier will pull the strings behind the scenes.

Pellegrini did select Jozef Raz, a politically independent health ministry official, to take over as interior minister after Robert Kalinak resigned because of the political crisis.

People gather near the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) square during a rally under the slogan "For a Decent Slovakia", against corruption and to pay tribute to murdered Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, March 16, 2018, in Bratislava, Slovakia. /VCG Photo

"I did not want a member of any political party to take this position.... We wanted a crisis manager who is not a party member," Pellegrini told reporters.

He also proposed former health minister Richard Rasi as new deputy premier and Smer-SD member Lubica Lassakova for culture minister.

Source(s): AFP