Ján Valko, the former head of JAVYS, Slovakia’s nuclear decommissioning company, will not become the country’s new economy minister as was rumoured with Robert Fico, the chirman of Smer party and the future prime minister, reportedly offering the post to Tomáš Malatinský, the head of the Association of Employers' Unions and Associations, the Sme daily reported.
Smer spokesman Erik Tomáš confirmed to the daily that the party has a potential nominee but that the deal has not been sealed. Smer did not confirm the nomination and Malatinský did not respond to media questions.
Malatinský would be the third non-partisan minister in the new cabinet, following future Justice Minister Tomáš Borec and future Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák, Sme wrote.
The first reactions to the potential nomination were positive. Malatinský had criticised the first Fico government for an inadequate fight against corruption.
Outgoing labour minister Jozef Mihál said that he considered Malatinský to be a serious man and added that he would be pleasantly surprised if he becomes economy minister. Mihál added that he thought Malatinský would contribute to improvement in the business environment.
Source: Sme
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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