Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Wednesday, August 26, that he sees no reason to remove Agriculture Minister Stanislav Becík who is facing calls from his nominating party, the Movement for the Democratic Slovakia(HZDS) to stand down. HZDS claims that Becík has favoured people from Smer, the party of the Prime Minister, when it comes to top-ranking posts in the ministry, the TASR newswire wrote.
“My relationship with Mr. Becík is good ... He is a good minister who understands what he does at the agriculture ministry and I believe that he enjoys a good reputation within the agricultural fraternity,” said Fico following government discussions in Svidník in Prešov region, as quoted by TASR.
Fico said that he has received various pieces of information about the intention of HZDS to replace Becík. “I for one see no reason to go to the president with a proposal for his removal ... it makes no sense,” he also told TASR.
According to media reports, Becík chose people close to the Smer party for newly appointed management posts at state forestry company Lesy SR rather than people from HZDS. “The minister was asked to replace management. He put together the new management in a way that provokes discussion. He can answer ... that those people are the best and that he doesn't care whether they claim leftist values or come from a party that is more on the conservative side,” said Fico. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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