Jana Benková, press secretary to Prime Minister Robert Fico has released a statement saying that Ján Slota, the leader of the SNS, has accepted the Fico’s request to withdraw his nomination of Jaroslav Izák as environment minister.
Earlier Fico had told a news conference that the nominee was unacceptable because of issues relating to subsidies from the Environmental Fund provided to private individuals. According to Fico, the nominee’s actions were within the law but violated ethical principles. Slovak dailies had been reporting the scandal since the middle of last week.
Fico had said that if Slota did not withdraw his nomination of Izák, he would be recalled at the next Cabinet session on August 20.
Rafael Rafaj, Chairman of SNS deputy faction, declined to comment.